AMERICAN ARMENIANS SQUABBLE OVER US ASSISTANCE
Washington
June 16, 2009 Tuesday
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) sent to the US
Congress Foreign Affairs Committee a letter full of false facts and
figures. According to the letter, the figures the White House submitted
to the Congress for the 2010 FY called for 38% cut in aid to Armenia,
a 20% increase in aid to Azerbaijan and 19% to Georgia.
According to the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the US, the Armenian National
Committee accuses Obama Administration Enhanced Coverage LinkingObama
Administration -Search using: Biographies Plus News News, Most Recent
60 Days of double standards, though it is applying double standards
itself by distorting the truth.
Instead of comparing the amount of aid to Armenia in 2009 and 2010 ANSA
compares the 2009 and 2010 figures for Azerbaijan and Georgia. The
fact of the matter is that Obama Administration Enhanced Coverage
LinkingObama Administration -Search using: Biographies Plus News News,
Most Recent 60 Days increased by 25% the assistance to Armenia from
USD 24 million in 2009 to 30 million in 2010. It means that there was
a 25% increase in aid to Armenia rather than what the ANSA claimed
as 38% decrease.
Armenia is the South Caucasus`s largest recipient of US aid with a
total of US $1.7 billion allocated since 1991.
The statement says ANSA`s misrepresenting facts concerning Azerbaijan
and Georgia is nothing but an attempt to cast a slur on these
democratic countries. Both Azerbaijan and Georgia proved their worth as
US`s reliable partners. Unlike Armenia, neither Azerbaijan nor Georgia
conduct the election, which led to killing of civilian protesters.
According to the Azerbaijan diplomatic mission, the better way for
ANSA to serve Armenia`s and US interests is to provide accurate
information to the US public, legislators and officials.