U.S. House Panel Approves Deep Cuts On FY2014 Foreign Aid Spendings

U.S. HOUSE PANEL APPROVES DEEP CUTS ON FY2014 FOREIGN AID SPENDINGS

13:20, 20 July, 2013

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: The U.S. House State-Foreign Operations
Subcommittee has proposed a significant reduction in foreign aid
spending for Fiscal Year 2014, approving a measure, earlier today,
that would cut nearly 20% from both last year’s figures and the Obama
Administration’s budget request, reports Armenpress refering to the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

While specific country levels – including allocations for Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh – have not yet been made public, sources report
that across-the-board cuts are foreseen on most accounts, and some
multilateral programs being cut by up to 60%.

“With Congress considering unprecedented cuts in foreign aid spending,
legislators in the House and Senate need to hear from their Armenian
American constituents about the vital role that our aid programs to
Armenia and Karabakh play in advancing U.S.

interests in a strategic region,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. “If you haven’t called your legislators, call them now.

If you’ve already called, call them again. Make sure they know where
you stand.”

Following up on today’s subcommittee action, the full House
Appropriations Committee will review the foreign aid bill as early as
next Wednesday, July 24th. A parallel process on the Senate side will
begin on Tuesday, July 23rd, with the Senate State-Foreign Operations
Subcommittee taking up its version of the measure.

Armenian Americans across the U.S. continue to contact Senate and
House appropriators to advocate for a broad range of Armenian American
concerns including:

— At least $5 million in U.S. assistance to Nagorno Karabakh — At
least $50 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia — At least 10% of
U.S. assistance to Georgia to be earmarked for job creation programs
in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of that country.

— Funds for humanitarian and resettlement assistance specifically
targeted to Armenian and other Christian populations as well as other
minority communities affected by the recent unrest in the Middle East.

— Language strengthening Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to
Azerbaijan.

— Removal of barriers to contact and communication with
representatives of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

— Language calling for the participation of Nagorno Karabakh leaders
in the OSCE Minsk Group negotiations

ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian travelled to Armenia
and Karabakh last week as part of a mission that included firsthand
surveys of the benefits of U.S. assistance programs for both Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh. In addition to meetings with Nagorno

Karabakh Deputy Prime Minister Artur Aghabekyan, Foreign Minister
Karen Mirzoyan and Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian, Nahapetian
visited with representatives of the Halo Trust, which receives close
to half of the $2 million annual U.S. assistance package to Karabakh
for demining purposes. HALO Trust offered shocking statistics about
the ongoing maiming of civilians, including children, due to the
landmines and explosive remnants in Karabakh, noting that the injury
rate is ahead of even Afghanistan on a per capita basis. The ANCA has
been be advocating for the expansion of U.S. assistance to Karabakh
to the $5 million level to address these concerns.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress