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HOUSE PANEL APPROVES $40 MILLION FOR ARMENIA
asbarez
July 27, 2011
Maintains parity in military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan
WASHINGTON-A key U.S. House panel responsible for foreign aid spending
voted today to approve $40 million in economic aid to Armenia,
honoring Pres. Obama's budget request for the 2012 fiscal year,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
Reports from Capitol Hill sources close to this process report that the
Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, which is led
by Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) and Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey (D-NY),
maintained military assistance parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan,
but did not outline specific allocation amounts. The panel reportedly
did not include specific recommendations for U.S. assistance levels
to Nagorno Karabakh, although it did express support for a negotiated
settlement to the conflict. The version approved by the subcommittee
also includes a provision "that funds made available for the Southern
Caucasus region may be used for confidence-building measures and other
activities in furtherance of the peaceful resolution of conflicts,
including in Nagorno-Karabakh."
"Although today's aid level for Armenia falls short of the $60
million requested in the bipartisan Congressional letter circulated
earlier this year, we are aware of the serious financial pressures
upon legislators of both parties and want to share our appreciation
for the leadership of Chairwoman Granger, Ranking Member Lowey,
Congressmen Schiff, Rothman, Wolf, and all our other friends on the
subcommittee for maintaining the assistance level for Armenia in
the face of deep spending cuts across the foreign aid bill," said
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward, as this
spending measure moves through the legislative process, to supporting
the efforts of legislators from both houses of Congress to shape a
final foreign aid bill that recognizes and reflects the benefits of
increasing aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, zeroing-out U.S. aid
to Azerbaijan, and incorporating our other foreign aid priorities."
"I am pleased that Armenia will receive economic assistance and that
the committee again expressed its support for a negotiated solution
that avoids a return to bloodshed in Nagorno Karabakh," explained
House Foreign Operations Subcommittee Member Adam Schiff (D-CA).
"After more than two decades of struggle, the people of Karabakh still
live under the constant threat of Azerbaijani actions, which continue
to play a role in regional instability and episodic violence. I am
pleased that the report includes language calling for a lessening of
threats and provocations, but I would still like to see us end the
practice of furnishing security assistance to Azerbaijan and intend
to urge the elimination of military aid to Baku when this bill is
taken up by the full Appropriations Committee. I would also like
to see the State Department utilize the full resources the Congress
appropriates to assist the people of Karabakh."
In a May 20 letter to Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Democrat Lowey,
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) was
joined by 28 of his House colleagues in urging the foreign aid panel
to include the following provisions in the FY2012 Foreign Aid bill:
At least $60 million in economic support funds for Armenia.
At least $10 million in development aid to Nagorno Karabakh.
The strengthening of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act and
maintaining military aid parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The removal of barriers to U.S.-Nagorno Karabakh contacts and
communications.
Support for the reinstatement of Nagorno Karabakh in the OSCE Minsk
Group peace process.
At least $10 million in military aid to Armenia.
This Congressional Armenian Caucus budget request is consistent with
the priorities outlined by ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate
Nahapetian in testimony submitted to the foreign aid subcommittee
earlier this year. Read the text of her testimony.
The House Foreign Aid Bill will next be considered by the full House
Appropriations Committee, before consideration by the full House. The
Senate's version of the foreign aid bill has yet to be presented
for consideration.
asbarez
July 27, 2011
Maintains parity in military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan
WASHINGTON-A key U.S. House panel responsible for foreign aid spending
voted today to approve $40 million in economic aid to Armenia,
honoring Pres. Obama's budget request for the 2012 fiscal year,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
Reports from Capitol Hill sources close to this process report that the
Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, which is led
by Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) and Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey (D-NY),
maintained military assistance parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan,
but did not outline specific allocation amounts. The panel reportedly
did not include specific recommendations for U.S. assistance levels
to Nagorno Karabakh, although it did express support for a negotiated
settlement to the conflict. The version approved by the subcommittee
also includes a provision "that funds made available for the Southern
Caucasus region may be used for confidence-building measures and other
activities in furtherance of the peaceful resolution of conflicts,
including in Nagorno-Karabakh."
"Although today's aid level for Armenia falls short of the $60
million requested in the bipartisan Congressional letter circulated
earlier this year, we are aware of the serious financial pressures
upon legislators of both parties and want to share our appreciation
for the leadership of Chairwoman Granger, Ranking Member Lowey,
Congressmen Schiff, Rothman, Wolf, and all our other friends on the
subcommittee for maintaining the assistance level for Armenia in
the face of deep spending cuts across the foreign aid bill," said
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward, as this
spending measure moves through the legislative process, to supporting
the efforts of legislators from both houses of Congress to shape a
final foreign aid bill that recognizes and reflects the benefits of
increasing aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, zeroing-out U.S. aid
to Azerbaijan, and incorporating our other foreign aid priorities."
"I am pleased that Armenia will receive economic assistance and that
the committee again expressed its support for a negotiated solution
that avoids a return to bloodshed in Nagorno Karabakh," explained
House Foreign Operations Subcommittee Member Adam Schiff (D-CA).
"After more than two decades of struggle, the people of Karabakh still
live under the constant threat of Azerbaijani actions, which continue
to play a role in regional instability and episodic violence. I am
pleased that the report includes language calling for a lessening of
threats and provocations, but I would still like to see us end the
practice of furnishing security assistance to Azerbaijan and intend
to urge the elimination of military aid to Baku when this bill is
taken up by the full Appropriations Committee. I would also like
to see the State Department utilize the full resources the Congress
appropriates to assist the people of Karabakh."
In a May 20 letter to Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Democrat Lowey,
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) was
joined by 28 of his House colleagues in urging the foreign aid panel
to include the following provisions in the FY2012 Foreign Aid bill:
At least $60 million in economic support funds for Armenia.
At least $10 million in development aid to Nagorno Karabakh.
The strengthening of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act and
maintaining military aid parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The removal of barriers to U.S.-Nagorno Karabakh contacts and
communications.
Support for the reinstatement of Nagorno Karabakh in the OSCE Minsk
Group peace process.
At least $10 million in military aid to Armenia.
This Congressional Armenian Caucus budget request is consistent with
the priorities outlined by ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate
Nahapetian in testimony submitted to the foreign aid subcommittee
earlier this year. Read the text of her testimony.
The House Foreign Aid Bill will next be considered by the full House
Appropriations Committee, before consideration by the full House. The
Senate's version of the foreign aid bill has yet to be presented
for consideration.