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Washington, D.C. --- As House appropriators prepare to write their funding bills for the 2006 Fiscal Year, 45 Members of Congress today sent a letter to Foreign Operations Appropriations Chairman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and ranking member Nita Lowey (D-NY) requesting the subcommittee provide Armenia no less than $75 million in economic support. The lawmakers also requested that the subcommittee maintain military parity in aid between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The letter was initiated by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenia and Armenian Issues, and U.S. Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), an active member of the Caucus.
Economic Assistance to Armenia
The lawmakers wrote that the dual blockades of Armenia by Azerbaijan and Turkey continue to impede Armenia's economic well-being. Despite the dual blockades by Azerbaijan and Turkey, Armenia continues to implement economic and democratic reforms, which have met success.
"While Armenia continues to make important reforms, as long as Armenia suffers from blockades on its east and west borders, continued and robust U.S. assistance to Armenia is necessary to help minimize their impact," the lawmakers wrote in their letter. "Our assistance has provided an important positive effect and will continue to do so when provided at appropriate levels. For fiscal year 2005, $75 million was provided for Armenia. Maintaining this level of support is critical. Therefore, we request you include language ensuring that not less than $75 million in Economic Support Funds is appropriated for Armenia in fiscal year 2006."
Maintain Parity in Foreign Military Financing (FMF)
In the letter, the lawmakers commended President Bush for maintaining U.S. policy of military aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan by requesting $5 million in FMF for both countries in his FY 2006 budget request.
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"By allocating equal levels of military and security assistance to both nations, the U.S. government will preserve its credibility as an impartial and leading mediator in the continuing sensitive peace negotiations for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict," the 45 lawmakers continued in their letter. "Given the ongoing Azerbaijani blockades and threats to renew military aggression against Armenia and Karabakh, it is critically important that the Administration continues to promote balanced short- and long-term policies that elevate regional cooperation and reduce the risk of conflict in the South Caucuses region. Therefore, we support the President ’s symmetrical FMF request of $5 million for Armenia and Azerbaijan, and request that you include the same allocation in the FY 2006 bill."
Assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh
The 45 lawmakers also thanked Kolbe and Lowey for their continued support for assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh, which they believe is in our country ’s interests and helps alleviate the conditions of the Nagorno-Karabakh people.
"It is important for Congress to maintain a strong position on this funding to ensure that these programs continue," the lawmakers continued in their letter. "Therefore, we request you include language directing USAID to spend $5 million in fiscal year 2006 for programs in Nagorno-Karabakh."
Section 907
The lawmakers said that Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act remains a fundamental element of U.S. policy toward the South Caucuses because Azerbaijan continues its blockade of Armenia.
"As you know, the FY 2002 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act provided a limited and conditional waiver to Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act in order for the U.S. to effectively combat terrorism," the lawmakers wrote to Kolbe and Lowey. "Specifically, Secretary of State Colin Powell asked for flexibility to counter terrorist elements and organizations operating within Azerbaijan. We strongly support Section 907 and will oppose any further changes to this law. We request that you join us in opposing any changes to Section 907 in the fiscal year 2006 bill."
The Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to write its bill in the coming months. The 2006 fiscal year begins on October 1, 2005. |
