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Artsakh Freedom Support Act Maintained

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  • Artsakh Freedom Support Act Maintained

    ARTSAKH FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT MAINTAINED

    WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee
    approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 State, Foreign Operations
    Appropriations Bill, which included specific report language regarding
    Nagorno-Karabakh, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

    The Senate report language recommended "assistance for victims of the
    Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in amounts consistent with prior years,
    and for ongoing needs related to the conflict." In addition, the
    Committee urged "a peaceful resolution to the conflict."

    "Continued assistance for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh remains
    an important priority," Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), who serves on the
    Senate Appropriations Committee, told the Assembly.

    In her letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara
    Mikulski (D-MD), Assembly Board Member Annie Totah emphasized the
    importance of U.S. aid to Armenia and Artsakh given the ongoing
    Turkish and Azeri blockades.

    The Senate action follows the House, which approved its version
    yesterday. For its part, the House-approved language states, "within
    the funds provided under this heading, the Secretary of State should
    provide assistance for victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at
    levels consistent with prior years, and for ongoing needs related to
    the conflict." The House Appropriations Bill also restated the six
    customary exemptions for humanitarian and other assistance to Section
    907 of the Freedom Support Act. Section 907 was enacted in 1992 and
    requires the Government of Azerbaijan to take "demonstrable steps
    to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force" against
    Armenia and Artsakh.

    Overall, the Senate Bill represents a 5 percent cut whereas the
    House Bill represents a 19 percent reduction below the FY 2013
    enacted levels.

    "Given the ongoing needs in Artsakh, I was pleased that in working
    with the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, we were
    able to craft language to ensure continued funding to Karabakh,"
    House Appropriations Committee Member Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA)
    told the Assembly.

    Earlier this year, the Assembly, in its testimony highlighted
    the importance of U.S. assistance to Artsakh as well as Armenia,
    and much needed humanitarian assistance for Armenians in and those
    fleeing Syria. Additionally, the Assembly's testimony highlighted
    the inexplicable pardon of an Azeri officer who brutally murdered an
    Armenian officer at a NATO partnership for peace training exercise and
    urged that the Subcommittee "cease military assistance to Azerbaijan."

    As the key Congressional panels approved U.S. foreign aid priorities
    this week, the Assembly reported visiting over 125 Members of Congress
    and hand-delivered the new 2013 Assembly Press Kit outlining funding
    priorities for Armenia and Artsakh, including the Assembly's new FACT
    SHEET on Azerbaijan.

    "We thank our House and Senate friends for ensuring that critical
    assistance to Artsakh is upheld," stated Assembly Executive Director
    Bryan Ardouny. "We look forward to working with our friends in Congress
    as the appropriations process continues," he said.

    Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
    Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
    and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan,
    501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

    12:32 26/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
    http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/politics/view/30555

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