Tweet
PALLONE REQUESTS INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA, NAGORNO KARABAKH IN APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Politicker NJ
April 2 2014
By Raymond |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), along with
27 members of Congress, sent the following letter today to Chairwoman
Kay Granger and Ranking Member Nita Lowey of the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related
Programs. In preparing the Fiscal Year 2015 State, Foreign Operations,
and Related Programs Appropriations bill, the lawmakers are requesting
that the subcommittee support increased funding for U.S. assistance
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Specifically, the representatives are asking the subcommittee to direct
the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) to spend at least
$5 million in FY 2015 for humanitarian and development programs in
Nagorno Karabakh and to ensure that at least $40 million in overall FY
2015 economic aid is appropriated for Armenia. The group also requested
that the U.S. close distribution gaps in need-based aid to at-risk
populations in Syria, including Armenians and Christian communities,
fund sustainable job creation programs in the Samtskhe-Javakheti
region of Georgia, and suspend military aid to Azerbaijan until
their government ceases cross-border attacks into Nagorno Karabakh
and Armenia and agrees to settle regional conflicts by peaceful means.
Below is the full text of the letter:
April 2, 2014
The Honorable Kay Granger
Chairwoman
Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related
Programs
Room HT-2, The Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Nita Lowey
Ranking Member
Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related
Programs
1016 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Lowey:
We are writing to underscore the importance of strengthening our ties
with Armenia and empowering American diplomacy through continued U.S.
assistance for Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, the Samtskhe-Javakheti
region of Georgia, and at-risk minorities in the Middle East. Given
recent events, U.S. support in the region is critically important.
As you work with your colleagues in preparing the Fiscal Year 2015
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill,
we respectfully ask that you consider the following requests:
Assistance to Nagorno Karabakh:
Direct U.S. aid to Nagorno Karabakh has, for more than a decade and
a half, represented a powerful investment in peace and an expression
of America's leadership in support of a negotiated and democratic
resolution of security and status issues related to the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh. This direct aid has met pressing humanitarian needs,
most recently providing for desperately needed clean water to families
and the clearing of mines and unexploded ordnance from villages and
farmlands. We thank the Subcommittee for its longstanding leadership
in support of this aid program and for consistently including language
in its report calling for U.S.
assistance in Nagorno Karabakh.
We request that the Subcommittee include language directing USAID to
spend at least $5 million in Fiscal Year 2015 for humanitarian and
development programs in Nagorno Karabakh.
Suspension of U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan:
The oil-rich government of Azerbaijan, which routinely threatens to
start a new war with Armenia, is listed as one of the most corrupt in
the world, and has been ruled by the Aliyev family for much of the
past half-century. Azerbaijan neither needs nor deserves American
military aid.
Azerbaijan continues to launch cross-border attacks not only into
Nagorno Karabakh, but also Armenia, a NATO Partnership for Peace
country with troops serving in both Afghanistan and Kosovo. The
President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, regularly threatens to renew
full-scale hostilities, refuses U.S. and international calls to
pull back snipers, has made land claims against Armenia, and openly
incites anti-Armenian hatred, including against Americans of Armenian
descent. As was widely reported in the international media, on August
31, 2012, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev personally pardoned
an unrepentant, convicted murderer for killing a NATO Partnership
for Peace participant because he was Armenian. Immediately after his
pardon, this convicted murderer received a promotion in the Azerbaijani
military, an apartment, and years of back pay for his prison time. The
pardon was condemned around the world, including by President Obama,
Members of Congress, European Parliament, OSCE, Council of Europe,
and NATO.
We request that the Subcommittee suspend the appropriation of Fiscal
Year 2015 U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan until its government ceases
cross-border attacks, ends its threats of renewed war, and agrees to
a settlement of regional conflicts through peaceful means.
Assistance to Armenia:
Armenia, a crucial ally in a strategic region of the world, has
extended robust support for U.S.-led peace-keeping deployments in
Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, and is cooperating with the U.S. on a
broad range of regional and security challenges. Armenia is regularly
ranked highly by the Wall Street Journal/ Heritage Foundation Index
of Economic Freedom, and met the Fiscal Year 2014 eligibility criteria
for the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
At the same time, the people of landlocked Armenia continue to
face the devastating impact of Turkey and Azerbaijan's dual economic
blockades. Our assistance has played a vital role in helping alleviate
these blockades and promoting Armenia's free market system and
democratic development.
We respectfully request that the Subcommittee include language within
the Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia Account ensuring
that not less than $40 million in overall Fiscal Year 2015 economic
aid (including Economic Support Fund, International Narcotics Control
and Law Enforcement, and Global Health Programs), is appropriated
for Armenia.
Assistance to Christian and other minority communities in the Middle
East:
Distribution gaps in need-based international aid deliveries to Aleppo,
Syria and other areas of the country have resulted in desperately
needed food, medicine, and other relief supplies not reaching
Armenians, Christian communities, and other at-risk and vulnerable
minorities. At the same time, thousands from Syria, including many
Christians, have sought safe-haven in Armenia.
Armenia, a majority-Christian state, has received very modest U.S. and
international relief and resettlement assistance, particularly
compared with the per-capita level of such aid provided to Turkey,
Jordan, and other regional countries.
We request that the Subcommittee instruct the State Department and
USAID to put in place policies and programs to close gaps in the
distribution of need-based aid to at-risk minority populations in
Syria, including Armenians and other Christians.
We further ask that the Subcommittee instruct the State Department
and USAID to ensure the allocation to Armenia of a proportional level
of the U.S. and international aid supporting the efforts to regional
states to resettle those fleeing from Syria.
Assistance to the Javakhk Region in Georgia:
We encourage the Subcommittee, as part of a robust U.S. aid package
to Georgia, to expand on U.S. assistance previously targeted to
the largely Armenian-populated region of Samtskhe-Javakheti in
south-central Georgia, including funding for job-creation programs
and ongoing improvements to transportation and communication
infrastructure.
Over the past decade, USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation
(MCC) have expanded their presence in Samtskhe-Javakheti in an effort
to address core humanitarian and economic difficulties that face the
population. Over the past several years, Americans of Armenian heritage
have worked with USAID to leverage existing U.S. aid programs and to
pursue public-private partnerships.
We request that the Subcommittee include language directing USAID to
target at least 10 percent of Fiscal Year 2015 aid to Georgia to fund
sustainable job-creation programs in Samtskhe-Javakheti.
Enhancing Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act:
Enacted in 1992, Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act stands as
a statement of U.S. opposition to Azerbaijan's blockades and other
aggressive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Since
its enactment, Azerbaijan has not lifted its illegal blockades and
has ignored U.S. calls to cease its destabilizing threats.
In light of Baku's actions, we urge the Subcommittee to add the
following language narrowing the President's waiver authority and
requiring the following additional certification requirement: "In the
last fiscal year, Azerbaijan has not taken hostile action, either
through military force or incitement, including but not limited to
threatening pronouncements by government officials toward Armenia or
Nagorno Karabakh, and has both stated and demonstrated its commitment
to pursuing a lasting peace with Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh through
solely non-violent means."
Ending the Exclusion of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh from the
Peace Process:
The Nagorno Karabakh Republic was one of the three parties to the 1994
cease-fire, which ended military hostilities between Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijan. In its aftermath, Nagorno Karabakh participated in
the OSCE Minsk Group peace process as a partner, along with Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Since 1998, however, at Baku's insistence, Nagorno
Karabakh has been excluded from the peace process. Nagorno Karabakh
should, in the interests of peace and basic fairness, be permitted
to fully participate in all talks regarding its future.
We respectfully request that the following report language be included:
"In the interest of promoting a lasting and durable peace in the South
Caucasus, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic must be reinstated into the
OSCE Minsk Group peace process as a full negotiating partner."
Thank you for your leadership on the Appropriations Subcommittee on
State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs. We are grateful for
your role in strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and
Armenia, supporting aid to Nagorno Karabakh, and on all the issues
we have raised.
We appreciate your consideration of these requests.
Sincerely,
Members of Congress
FRANK PALLONE, JR.
MICHAEL GRIMM JACKIE SPEIER JOHN F. TIERNEY LORETTA SANCHEZ JIM COSTA
AMES R. LANGEVIN BARBARA LEE GARY PETERS KATHERINE CLARK JARED POLIS
LINDA SANCHEZ JUDY CHU RUSH HOLT DAN LIPINSKI COLLIN PETERSON GRACE
F. NAPOLITANO ANNA G. ESHOO TIM BISHOP DAVID CICILLINE BRAD SHERMAN
JAMES P. MCGOVERN CAROLYN MALONEY BRUCE BRALEY CHAKA FATTAH STEPHEN
F. LYNCH JAN SCHAKOWSKY DINA TITUS
http://www.politickernj.com/72405/pallone-requests-increase-funding-assistance-armenia-nagorno-karabakh-appropriations-bill
From: Baghdasarian
Politicker NJ
April 2 2014
By Raymond |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), along with
27 members of Congress, sent the following letter today to Chairwoman
Kay Granger and Ranking Member Nita Lowey of the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related
Programs. In preparing the Fiscal Year 2015 State, Foreign Operations,
and Related Programs Appropriations bill, the lawmakers are requesting
that the subcommittee support increased funding for U.S. assistance
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Specifically, the representatives are asking the subcommittee to direct
the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) to spend at least
$5 million in FY 2015 for humanitarian and development programs in
Nagorno Karabakh and to ensure that at least $40 million in overall FY
2015 economic aid is appropriated for Armenia. The group also requested
that the U.S. close distribution gaps in need-based aid to at-risk
populations in Syria, including Armenians and Christian communities,
fund sustainable job creation programs in the Samtskhe-Javakheti
region of Georgia, and suspend military aid to Azerbaijan until
their government ceases cross-border attacks into Nagorno Karabakh
and Armenia and agrees to settle regional conflicts by peaceful means.
Below is the full text of the letter:
April 2, 2014
The Honorable Kay Granger
Chairwoman
Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related
Programs
Room HT-2, The Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Nita Lowey
Ranking Member
Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related
Programs
1016 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Lowey:
We are writing to underscore the importance of strengthening our ties
with Armenia and empowering American diplomacy through continued U.S.
assistance for Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, the Samtskhe-Javakheti
region of Georgia, and at-risk minorities in the Middle East. Given
recent events, U.S. support in the region is critically important.
As you work with your colleagues in preparing the Fiscal Year 2015
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill,
we respectfully ask that you consider the following requests:
Assistance to Nagorno Karabakh:
Direct U.S. aid to Nagorno Karabakh has, for more than a decade and
a half, represented a powerful investment in peace and an expression
of America's leadership in support of a negotiated and democratic
resolution of security and status issues related to the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh. This direct aid has met pressing humanitarian needs,
most recently providing for desperately needed clean water to families
and the clearing of mines and unexploded ordnance from villages and
farmlands. We thank the Subcommittee for its longstanding leadership
in support of this aid program and for consistently including language
in its report calling for U.S.
assistance in Nagorno Karabakh.
We request that the Subcommittee include language directing USAID to
spend at least $5 million in Fiscal Year 2015 for humanitarian and
development programs in Nagorno Karabakh.
Suspension of U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan:
The oil-rich government of Azerbaijan, which routinely threatens to
start a new war with Armenia, is listed as one of the most corrupt in
the world, and has been ruled by the Aliyev family for much of the
past half-century. Azerbaijan neither needs nor deserves American
military aid.
Azerbaijan continues to launch cross-border attacks not only into
Nagorno Karabakh, but also Armenia, a NATO Partnership for Peace
country with troops serving in both Afghanistan and Kosovo. The
President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, regularly threatens to renew
full-scale hostilities, refuses U.S. and international calls to
pull back snipers, has made land claims against Armenia, and openly
incites anti-Armenian hatred, including against Americans of Armenian
descent. As was widely reported in the international media, on August
31, 2012, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev personally pardoned
an unrepentant, convicted murderer for killing a NATO Partnership
for Peace participant because he was Armenian. Immediately after his
pardon, this convicted murderer received a promotion in the Azerbaijani
military, an apartment, and years of back pay for his prison time. The
pardon was condemned around the world, including by President Obama,
Members of Congress, European Parliament, OSCE, Council of Europe,
and NATO.
We request that the Subcommittee suspend the appropriation of Fiscal
Year 2015 U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan until its government ceases
cross-border attacks, ends its threats of renewed war, and agrees to
a settlement of regional conflicts through peaceful means.
Assistance to Armenia:
Armenia, a crucial ally in a strategic region of the world, has
extended robust support for U.S.-led peace-keeping deployments in
Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, and is cooperating with the U.S. on a
broad range of regional and security challenges. Armenia is regularly
ranked highly by the Wall Street Journal/ Heritage Foundation Index
of Economic Freedom, and met the Fiscal Year 2014 eligibility criteria
for the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
At the same time, the people of landlocked Armenia continue to
face the devastating impact of Turkey and Azerbaijan's dual economic
blockades. Our assistance has played a vital role in helping alleviate
these blockades and promoting Armenia's free market system and
democratic development.
We respectfully request that the Subcommittee include language within
the Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia Account ensuring
that not less than $40 million in overall Fiscal Year 2015 economic
aid (including Economic Support Fund, International Narcotics Control
and Law Enforcement, and Global Health Programs), is appropriated
for Armenia.
Assistance to Christian and other minority communities in the Middle
East:
Distribution gaps in need-based international aid deliveries to Aleppo,
Syria and other areas of the country have resulted in desperately
needed food, medicine, and other relief supplies not reaching
Armenians, Christian communities, and other at-risk and vulnerable
minorities. At the same time, thousands from Syria, including many
Christians, have sought safe-haven in Armenia.
Armenia, a majority-Christian state, has received very modest U.S. and
international relief and resettlement assistance, particularly
compared with the per-capita level of such aid provided to Turkey,
Jordan, and other regional countries.
We request that the Subcommittee instruct the State Department and
USAID to put in place policies and programs to close gaps in the
distribution of need-based aid to at-risk minority populations in
Syria, including Armenians and other Christians.
We further ask that the Subcommittee instruct the State Department
and USAID to ensure the allocation to Armenia of a proportional level
of the U.S. and international aid supporting the efforts to regional
states to resettle those fleeing from Syria.
Assistance to the Javakhk Region in Georgia:
We encourage the Subcommittee, as part of a robust U.S. aid package
to Georgia, to expand on U.S. assistance previously targeted to
the largely Armenian-populated region of Samtskhe-Javakheti in
south-central Georgia, including funding for job-creation programs
and ongoing improvements to transportation and communication
infrastructure.
Over the past decade, USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation
(MCC) have expanded their presence in Samtskhe-Javakheti in an effort
to address core humanitarian and economic difficulties that face the
population. Over the past several years, Americans of Armenian heritage
have worked with USAID to leverage existing U.S. aid programs and to
pursue public-private partnerships.
We request that the Subcommittee include language directing USAID to
target at least 10 percent of Fiscal Year 2015 aid to Georgia to fund
sustainable job-creation programs in Samtskhe-Javakheti.
Enhancing Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act:
Enacted in 1992, Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act stands as
a statement of U.S. opposition to Azerbaijan's blockades and other
aggressive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Since
its enactment, Azerbaijan has not lifted its illegal blockades and
has ignored U.S. calls to cease its destabilizing threats.
In light of Baku's actions, we urge the Subcommittee to add the
following language narrowing the President's waiver authority and
requiring the following additional certification requirement: "In the
last fiscal year, Azerbaijan has not taken hostile action, either
through military force or incitement, including but not limited to
threatening pronouncements by government officials toward Armenia or
Nagorno Karabakh, and has both stated and demonstrated its commitment
to pursuing a lasting peace with Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh through
solely non-violent means."
Ending the Exclusion of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh from the
Peace Process:
The Nagorno Karabakh Republic was one of the three parties to the 1994
cease-fire, which ended military hostilities between Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijan. In its aftermath, Nagorno Karabakh participated in
the OSCE Minsk Group peace process as a partner, along with Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Since 1998, however, at Baku's insistence, Nagorno
Karabakh has been excluded from the peace process. Nagorno Karabakh
should, in the interests of peace and basic fairness, be permitted
to fully participate in all talks regarding its future.
We respectfully request that the following report language be included:
"In the interest of promoting a lasting and durable peace in the South
Caucasus, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic must be reinstated into the
OSCE Minsk Group peace process as a full negotiating partner."
Thank you for your leadership on the Appropriations Subcommittee on
State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs. We are grateful for
your role in strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and
Armenia, supporting aid to Nagorno Karabakh, and on all the issues
we have raised.
We appreciate your consideration of these requests.
Sincerely,
Members of Congress
FRANK PALLONE, JR.
MICHAEL GRIMM JACKIE SPEIER JOHN F. TIERNEY LORETTA SANCHEZ JIM COSTA
AMES R. LANGEVIN BARBARA LEE GARY PETERS KATHERINE CLARK JARED POLIS
LINDA SANCHEZ JUDY CHU RUSH HOLT DAN LIPINSKI COLLIN PETERSON GRACE
F. NAPOLITANO ANNA G. ESHOO TIM BISHOP DAVID CICILLINE BRAD SHERMAN
JAMES P. MCGOVERN CAROLYN MALONEY BRUCE BRALEY CHAKA FATTAH STEPHEN
F. LYNCH JAN SCHAKOWSKY DINA TITUS
http://www.politickernj.com/72405/pallone-requests-increase-funding-assistance-armenia-nagorno-karabakh-appropriations-bill
From: Baghdasarian