U.S. ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA 2010
US State News
June 22, 2009 Monday 5:11 PM EST
YEREVAN, Armenia, May 14 — The U.S. Embassy issued the following
press release:
In response to news reports carried recently by several media outlets
regarding assistance from the United States for Armenia, I would like
to inform you of the following: Since international assistance to
Armenia began over twenty years ago with the relief effort following
the 1988 earthquake, the U.S. government has provided almost two
billion dollars of humanitarian aid and development assistance
for Armenia’s economic, social and governance sectors. The Obama
Administration’s request for Armenia for FY 2010 ($30 million) is
25 percent above the last Bush Administration budget request ($24
million was requested for FY 2009; Congress doubled this request to
$48 million). The actual level of assistance for Armenia for FY 2010
has not yet been determined by the U.S. Congress. With respect to
funding for Nagorno-Karabakh, there has never been a budget request
sent to Congress because there is no mechanism for doing so in the
budget process.
Rather, the humanitarian assistance provided to Nagorno-Karabakh
is worked out afterwards, during the budget negotiation between
Congress and the Administration. Regarding military assistance,
the Administration’s FMF request for Armenia in FY 2010 is
the same level as Armenia received in FY 2009. There has been
no decrease. The specific increase for Azerbaijan is linked to
U.S. priorities in peacekeeping and maritime security, particularly
regarding proliferation and drug trafficking on the Caspian Sea. The
respective levels requested for Armenia and Azerbaijan are carefully
considered and calibrated to ensure that they do not adversely
affect the military balance in the region or undermine efforts for
a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; they do,
however, provide appropriate assistance to each country that will
enhance their interoperability and military professionalism. The
United States remains committed to its longstanding partnership with
Armenia and the Armenian people. Helping the people of Armenia has
been, and continues to be, a high priority. Marie L. Yovanovitch
AmbassadorFor more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar,
Email:- [email protected]