Tweet
PRESS RELEASE
June 24, 2014
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
HOUSE & SENATE APPROPRIATORS ADOPT U.S. FUNDING MEASURES TO ARMENIA &
THE REGION
Aid to Nagorno Karabakh Highlighted, Section 907 Maintained
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House Appropriations Committee approved its
Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
(SFOPS) Appropriations Bill, which covers U.S. economic, humanitarian, and
military assistance to the South Caucasus, reported the Armenian Assembly
of America (Assembly). Specific funding levels to Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Nagorno Karabakh were not delineated in the bill.
The House bill was similar to the Senate version, which was approved last
week. Both bills maintained Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act,
restating the six customary exemptions for humanitarian and other
assistance to Azerbaijan. 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.
However, the Senate report language, unlike the House, specifically
highlighted funding to Nagorno Karabakh as follows: `The Committee
recommends assistance for victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in
amounts consistent with prior years, and for ongoing needs related to the
conflict."
Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), who serves on the Senate Appropriations
Committee, told the Assembly that "continued assistance for the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh remains an important priority." Commenting on the House
bill, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), who sits on the House Appropriations
Committee, stated, "I am disappointed that we could not reach agreement on
language underscoring the need for humanitarian assistance in Nagorno
Karabakh. We must continue to fight for this assistance as the bill moves
through the legislative process to ensure the best possible outcome for our
allies Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Given the bellicose language and
attacks coming from Azerbaijan on a daily basis, this aid is absolutely
critical for the freedom, prosperity and self-determination of those in the
region," Schiff told the Assembly.
The House and Senate FY 2015 SFOPS bills each totaled approximately $48
billion, which is some $700 million below the enacted FY 2014 level, and
roughly $280 million less than the President's FY 2015 request.
The Administration's budget calls for $1.7 million in Foreign Military
Financing (FMF) and $600,000 in International Military Education Training
(IMET) for Armenia and Azerbaijan. This amounts to a reduction of $1
million for FMF from last year's budget request, however IMET funding is
consistent with past years and military parity is maintained between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In addition to FMF and IMET assistance, the Administration's FY 2015 budget
also recommended that Armenia receive $20.7 million in Economic Support
Funds (compared to the FY 2014 request of $24.7 million), and $1.7 million
in International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (compared to the FY
2014 request of $2.8 million). The Administration's budget also zeroed out
global health funding for Armenia. In total, the FY 2015 budget provides
$24.7 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia, which is a $6.143 million
reduction when compared to the Administration's FY 2014 request of $30.843
million.
Earlier this year, the Assembly submitted testimony to the House
Appropriations Committee, stressing the importance of U.S. assistance to
Artsakh as well as Armenia, and the much needed humanitarian assistance for
Armenians in, and those fleeing, Syria. Additionally, the Assembly's
testimony highlighted the inexplicable pardon of a convicted 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.
`Given Turkey's and Azerbaijan's ongoing blockade of Armenia and the
escalating security threats from Azerbaijan, coupled with the
unconscionable pardon by Azerbaijan of a convicted axe murderer, as well as
other regional developments, the Assembly urges Congress to ensure robust
aid to Armenia and Artsakh,' stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny. "Moreover, with the latest developments in Syria and Iraq, the
Assembly urges Congress to take immediate action to provide urgent
humanitarian relief to the Christian Armenian community there," Ardouny
stated.
After both measures pass their respective chambers, the next step in the
legislative process involves the creation of an Appropriations conference
committee, whose members will work out the differences between the House
and Senate versions of the bill before sending it to the President for him
to sign into law.
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 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR: # 2014-036
Available online: http://bit.ly/1lNC7r3
June 24, 2014
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
HOUSE & SENATE APPROPRIATORS ADOPT U.S. FUNDING MEASURES TO ARMENIA &
THE REGION
Aid to Nagorno Karabakh Highlighted, Section 907 Maintained
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House Appropriations Committee approved its
Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
(SFOPS) Appropriations Bill, which covers U.S. economic, humanitarian, and
military assistance to the South Caucasus, reported the Armenian Assembly
of America (Assembly). Specific funding levels to Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Nagorno Karabakh were not delineated in the bill.
The House bill was similar to the Senate version, which was approved last
week. Both bills maintained Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act,
restating the six customary exemptions for humanitarian and other
assistance to Azerbaijan. 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.
However, the Senate report language, unlike the House, specifically
highlighted funding to Nagorno Karabakh as follows: `The Committee
recommends assistance for victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in
amounts consistent with prior years, and for ongoing needs related to the
conflict."
Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), who serves on the Senate Appropriations
Committee, told the Assembly that "continued assistance for the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh remains an important priority." Commenting on the House
bill, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), who sits on the House Appropriations
Committee, stated, "I am disappointed that we could not reach agreement on
language underscoring the need for humanitarian assistance in Nagorno
Karabakh. We must continue to fight for this assistance as the bill moves
through the legislative process to ensure the best possible outcome for our
allies Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Given the bellicose language and
attacks coming from Azerbaijan on a daily basis, this aid is absolutely
critical for the freedom, prosperity and self-determination of those in the
region," Schiff told the Assembly.
The House and Senate FY 2015 SFOPS bills each totaled approximately $48
billion, which is some $700 million below the enacted FY 2014 level, and
roughly $280 million less than the President's FY 2015 request.
The Administration's budget calls for $1.7 million in Foreign Military
Financing (FMF) and $600,000 in International Military Education Training
(IMET) for Armenia and Azerbaijan. This amounts to a reduction of $1
million for FMF from last year's budget request, however IMET funding is
consistent with past years and military parity is maintained between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In addition to FMF and IMET assistance, the Administration's FY 2015 budget
also recommended that Armenia receive $20.7 million in Economic Support
Funds (compared to the FY 2014 request of $24.7 million), and $1.7 million
in International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (compared to the FY
2014 request of $2.8 million). The Administration's budget also zeroed out
global health funding for Armenia. In total, the FY 2015 budget provides
$24.7 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia, which is a $6.143 million
reduction when compared to the Administration's FY 2014 request of $30.843
million.
Earlier this year, the Assembly submitted testimony to the House
Appropriations Committee, stressing the importance of U.S. assistance to
Artsakh as well as Armenia, and the much needed humanitarian assistance for
Armenians in, and those fleeing, Syria. Additionally, the Assembly's
testimony highlighted the inexplicable pardon of a convicted 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.
`Given Turkey's and Azerbaijan's ongoing blockade of Armenia and the
escalating security threats from Azerbaijan, coupled with the
unconscionable pardon by Azerbaijan of a convicted axe murderer, as well as
other regional developments, the Assembly urges Congress to ensure robust
aid to Armenia and Artsakh,' stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny. "Moreover, with the latest developments in Syria and Iraq, the
Assembly urges Congress to take immediate action to provide urgent
humanitarian relief to the Christian Armenian community there," Ardouny
stated.
After both measures pass their respective chambers, the next step in the
legislative process involves the creation of an Appropriations conference
committee, whose members will work out the differences between the House
and Senate versions of the bill before sending it to the President for him
to sign into law.
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 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR: # 2014-036
Available online: http://bit.ly/1lNC7r3