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HOUSE PANEL APPROVES DEEP CUTS ON AID TO ARMENIA, NKR
http://asbarez.com/111814/house-panel-approves-deep-cuts-on-aid-to-armenia-nkr/
Monday, July 22nd, 2013
ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian with the dedicated
staff of HALO Trust discussing demining efforts in Nagorno Karabakh,
and how U.S. aid cuts will affect their work.
Senate Subcommittee Set to Consider its Version of Bill on Tuesday,
July 23rd
WASHINGTON-The U.S. House State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee has
proposed a significant reduction in foreign aid spending for Fiscal
Year 2014, approving a measure, on Monday, that would cut nearly 20%
from both last year's figures and the Obama Administration's budget
request, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
While specific country levels - including allocations for Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh - have not yet been made public, sources report
that across-the-board cuts are foreseen on most accounts, with some
multilateral programs expected to be cut by up to 60%.
"With Congress considering unprecedented cuts in foreign aid spending,
legislators in the House and Senate need to hear from their Armenian
American constituents about the vital role that our aid programs to
Armenia and Karabakh play in advancing U.S. interests in a strategic
region," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "If you haven't
called your legislators, call them now. If you've already called,
call them again. Make sure they know where you stand."
Following up on today's subcommittee action, the full House
Appropriations Committee will review the foreign aid bill as early as
next Wednesday, July 24th. A parallel process on the Senate side will
begin on Tuesday, July 23rd, with the Senate State-Foreign Operations
Subcommittee taking up its version of the measure.
Armenian Americans across the U.S. continue to contact Senate and
House appropriators to advocate for a broad range of Armenian American
concerns including:
- At least $5 million in U.S. assistance to Nagorno Karabakh - At
least $50 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia - At least 10% of
U.S. assistance to Georgia to be earmarked for job creation programs
in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of that country.
- Funds for humanitarian and resettlement assistance specifically
targeted to Armenian and other Christian populations, as well
as other minority communities affected by the recent unrest in the
Middle East.
- Language strengthening Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to
Azerbaijan.
- Removal of barriers to contact and communication with representatives
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
- Language calling for the participation of Nagorno Karabakh leaders
in the OSCE Minsk Group negotiations
Halo Trust shared a heart-wrenching photo of 12-year-old Karen
Mirzoyan, who is among the latest victims maimed by a landmine which
exploded in his backyard in Karabakh in April of 2013.
ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian travelled to Armenia
and Karabakh last week as part of a mission that included first-hand
surveys of the benefits of U.S. assistance programs for both Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh. In addition to meetings with Nagorno Karabakh
Deputy Prime Minister Artur Aghabekyan, Foreign Minister Karen
Mirzoyan and Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian, Nahapetian visited
with representatives of the HALO Trust, which receives close to half
of the $2 million annual U.S. assistance package to Karabakh for
demining purposes.
HALO Trust offered shocking statistics about the ongoing maiming of
civilians, including children, due to the landmines and explosive
remnants in Karabakh, noting that the injury rate is ahead of even
Afghanistan on a per capita basis. The ANCA has been advocating for
the expansion of U.S. assistance to Karabakh to the $5 million level
to address these concerns.
Armenian Americans and friends of Armenia and Karabakh can send a
free ANCA WebMail to their legislators by visiting here.
You can read the full ANCA Congressional testimony offered in support
of Armenian American foreign aid priorities by visiting here.
From: A. Papazian
http://asbarez.com/111814/house-panel-approves-deep-cuts-on-aid-to-armenia-nkr/
Monday, July 22nd, 2013
ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian with the dedicated
staff of HALO Trust discussing demining efforts in Nagorno Karabakh,
and how U.S. aid cuts will affect their work.
Senate Subcommittee Set to Consider its Version of Bill on Tuesday,
July 23rd
WASHINGTON-The U.S. House State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee has
proposed a significant reduction in foreign aid spending for Fiscal
Year 2014, approving a measure, on Monday, that would cut nearly 20%
from both last year's figures and the Obama Administration's budget
request, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
While specific country levels - including allocations for Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh - have not yet been made public, sources report
that across-the-board cuts are foreseen on most accounts, with some
multilateral programs expected to be cut by up to 60%.
"With Congress considering unprecedented cuts in foreign aid spending,
legislators in the House and Senate need to hear from their Armenian
American constituents about the vital role that our aid programs to
Armenia and Karabakh play in advancing U.S. interests in a strategic
region," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "If you haven't
called your legislators, call them now. If you've already called,
call them again. Make sure they know where you stand."
Following up on today's subcommittee action, the full House
Appropriations Committee will review the foreign aid bill as early as
next Wednesday, July 24th. A parallel process on the Senate side will
begin on Tuesday, July 23rd, with the Senate State-Foreign Operations
Subcommittee taking up its version of the measure.
Armenian Americans across the U.S. continue to contact Senate and
House appropriators to advocate for a broad range of Armenian American
concerns including:
- At least $5 million in U.S. assistance to Nagorno Karabakh - At
least $50 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia - At least 10% of
U.S. assistance to Georgia to be earmarked for job creation programs
in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of that country.
- Funds for humanitarian and resettlement assistance specifically
targeted to Armenian and other Christian populations, as well
as other minority communities affected by the recent unrest in the
Middle East.
- Language strengthening Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to
Azerbaijan.
- Removal of barriers to contact and communication with representatives
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
- Language calling for the participation of Nagorno Karabakh leaders
in the OSCE Minsk Group negotiations
Halo Trust shared a heart-wrenching photo of 12-year-old Karen
Mirzoyan, who is among the latest victims maimed by a landmine which
exploded in his backyard in Karabakh in April of 2013.
ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian travelled to Armenia
and Karabakh last week as part of a mission that included first-hand
surveys of the benefits of U.S. assistance programs for both Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh. In addition to meetings with Nagorno Karabakh
Deputy Prime Minister Artur Aghabekyan, Foreign Minister Karen
Mirzoyan and Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian, Nahapetian visited
with representatives of the HALO Trust, which receives close to half
of the $2 million annual U.S. assistance package to Karabakh for
demining purposes.
HALO Trust offered shocking statistics about the ongoing maiming of
civilians, including children, due to the landmines and explosive
remnants in Karabakh, noting that the injury rate is ahead of even
Afghanistan on a per capita basis. The ANCA has been advocating for
the expansion of U.S. assistance to Karabakh to the $5 million level
to address these concerns.
Armenian Americans and friends of Armenia and Karabakh can send a
free ANCA WebMail to their legislators by visiting here.
You can read the full ANCA Congressional testimony offered in support
of Armenian American foreign aid priorities by visiting here.
From: A. Papazian