INCREASE AID AMOUNTS FOR ARMENIA & ARTSAKH
Armenian Assembly Calls for $100 million in Democracy-Building and
Economic Assistance to Armenia
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Today,
Members of Congress sent a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs that significantly increases
prior aid requests to strengthen United States-Armenia relations and outlines
key priorities for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, reported the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly). With sweeping cuts across the State Department's budget,
the Administration proposed $6.75 million for Armenia. A prior congressional
effort requested $70 million, but today's action increases the request to a
total of $100 million for Armenia and Artsakh. The Assembly truly appreciates
today's action, and will continue working for further increases to Artsakh and
Armenia.
Spearheaded by Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) along with Armenian
Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Armenian Caucus Co-Vice Chair
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the letter is signed by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA),
Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI),
Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), Rep. TJ Cox (D-CA), Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Rep. Ted
Deutch (D-FL), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Rep. Jimmy
Gomez (D-CA), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), Rep. Sheila
Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Rep. Raja
Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Daniel Lipinksi (D-IL),
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Rep. Carolyn Maloney
(D-NY), Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Rep. Donald
Norcross (D-NJ), Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Rep.
Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD),
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), and
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV).
"What Congress appropriates money for
reflects the nation's values and priorities. Supporting Armenia as it undergoes
momentous democratic change embodies these values and should be a top priority.
That's why I've joined with my colleagues to call for increased democracy
assistance and other foreign aid for Armenia," Rep. Speier said to the
Armenian Assembly.
The Caucus initiative requests:
• $60
million for economic governance and rule of law assistance to Armenia through
State Department and USAID accounts;
• $10
million for military aid for Armenia through Foreign Military Financing (FMF)
and International Military and Education Training (IMET) programs;
• $20
million for Armenia to be a regional "safe haven" for refugees;
• $6
million for Artsakh de-mining, rehabilitation programs, and water supply
systems;
• $4
million for implementation of the Royce-Engel peace proposals, including
placement of OSCE-monitored, advanced gunfire locator systems;
• That
the State Department and USAID lift any official or unofficial restrictions on
U.S. travel, communication, or contacts with Artsakh government officials; and
• The
suspension of U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan until it has been verified to
have ceased all attacks against Armenia and Artsakh.
The letter states in part: "In the wake
of the Republic of Armenia's remarkable Velvet Revolution, we are writing to
thank the Subcommittee for its longstanding leadership in support of both
Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh). As you prepare the
Fiscal Year 2020 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations
bill, we ask you to include… provisions supporting a broad-based strategic
upgrade of a U.S.-Armenia partnership based upon shared interests and common
values."
The Members of Congress also called for
stricter provisions of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act to ensure that
Azerbaijan not take hostile actions against Armenia or Artsakh, and pledge to
demonstrate its commitment to pursuing lasting peace through solely non-violent
means.
The letter concludes: "Taking these
steps will continue to build on the U.S.-Armenia strategic relationship and
help to grow the seeds of pro-democratic and civil society institutions in Armenia.
We urge the Subcommittee to invest in peace and assist Armenia and Artsakh at
this exciting time of continued development."
"The Armenian Assembly welcomes this
increased request in funding to Armenia. Given the remarkable democratic
transformation last year in Armenia, we know that the community expects even
more," Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said. "Moreover, the
OSCE's Election Observation Mission Report stated that the elections 'were held
with respect for fundamental freedoms and enjoyed broad public trust that needs
to be preserved through further electoral reforms.'"
Additionally, the Organization for Security
and Co-Operation in Europe's (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights (ODIHR) reported that "election day proceeded calmly,
peacefully, free of pressure on or intimidation of voters" and "the
constitutionally guaranteed freedom of _expression_ was respected."
Earlier this month, Assembly Co-Chair Van
Krikorian, in testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee, requested
$100 million in democracy and economic assistance, at least $10 million in
Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education Training
(IMET) to Armenia for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, and $20 million to help resettle
and provide a safe haven for Christians at risk in Syria and throughout the
Middle East, with at least $25 million in assistance to Artsakh. Krikorian
cited Armenia's remarkable year as more than a reason to significantly increase
humanitarian aid, suggesting to the Subcommittee that the United States should
"reward people who have made progress towards democracy."
Krikorian applauded the Subcommittee for
holding the important hearing, and greatly appreciated "Chairwoman Nita
Lowey's leadership and steadfast support for Armenia and Artsakh."
Given Turkey and Azerbaijan's ongoing
blockades, the Assembly's written testimony also shed light on the importance
of aid to Armenia and Artsakh, the need to fully enforce Section 907 of the
FREEDOM Support Act, and targeted assistance for economic development and
job-creation programs in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of the Republic of
Georgia. The Armenian Assembly's submitted testimony for FY 2020 is available
online.
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
non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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