HOUSE ADOPTS $48 MILLION FOR ARMENIA, $10 MILLION FOR KARABAGH
armradio.am
11.07.2009 13:11
On Thursday evening, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the
earlier Appropriations Committee requests for $48 million in U.S. aid
to Armenia and $10 million in aid to Karabagh, while maintaining
military assistance parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of
the fiscal year (FY) 2010 foreign assistance package, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA.)
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Chairwoman
Nita Lowey (D-NY), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-chair Mark Kirk
(R-IL) and Armenian Genocide resolution lead sponsor Adam Schiff
(D-CA), all active supporters of Armenia assistance provisions,
welcomed the House decision.
Rep. Kirk noted that the bill "also includes a new requirement for the
Administration to consult with Congress before exercising its waiver
authority for assistance to Azerbaijan granted under section 907 of the
Foreign Assistance Act." Specifically, the bill report language states:
"The Committee reaffirms that Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act is
still in effect, pending a settlement of the ongoing dispute between
Armenia and Azerbaijan over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. The
Committee supports the so-called "Minsk Process" that provides a
forum for negotiations toward a peaceful settlement of the conflict,
and encourages the Department of State to continue its efforts
to reenergize the negotiating process this year. As this process
moves forward, the Committee believes that all parties in the
conflict must refrain from threats, incitement to the use of force,
or other inflammatory rhetoric. Recognizing that the Congress gave
the President broad waiver authority with respect to Section 907 in
the fiscal year 2002 Appropriations Act and that this waiver has been
exercised in every fiscal year since then, the Committee directs that
the Department of State consult with the Committees on Appropriations
before exercising this waiver for fiscal year 2010 to ensure that
all conditions under the waiver provision are being fully met."
Rep. Schiff noted that, for the first time, "the report accompanying
the [foreign aid] bill references the policy of parity in military
assistance provided to Armenia and Azerbaijan." Despite Bush and Obama
Administration calls to break military assistance parity, Congress has
maintained the provision, concerned about providing greater military
assistance to an Azerbaijani leadership which continues threats of
war against neighboring Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.
The FY 2010 House Appropriations bill keeps foreign military financing
to both countries at $3 million and International Military Education
and Training (IMET) assistance at $450,000 each.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved President Obama’s request
of $30 million in assistance to Armenia, while cutting the overall
foreign aid funding budget. Similar to previous years’ measures,
the bill does not make a specific assistance allocation for Nagorno
Karabagh and remains silent on foreign military assistance and IMET
funding.
"The ANCA welcomes House passage of the foreign aid bill, and
particularly the increased assistance for Nagorno Karabagh and
maintaining military assistance parity for Azerbaijan and Armenia,"
reported ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "Given the ongoing economic
hardship caused by the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades of Armenia,
and President Aliyev’s consistent threats of war against his neighbors,
we are disappointed with the Senate Appropriations Committee’s
allocation of only $30 million for Armenia. We look forward to
working with Senate and House conferees to ensure that the final
bill reflects appropriate funding levels, which promote stability
and economic progress in the region."
The Senate has yet to consider its version of the foreign aid bill,
after which Senate and House appropriators will confer on a final
version of the measure, to be sent to President Obama for signature.