Armenian Assembly requests $10 million U.S. aid to Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - Earlier this week, Congressional Relations Associate Bianka Kadian-Dodov, on behalf of the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) provided "public witness testimony" before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations Appropriations and Related Programs, the Assembly said in a press release.

This key panel, which decides assistance levels to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, held hearings on April 13 and 14 for Members of Congress and "outside groups" to testify with respect to important funding and policy before the committee's jurisdiction.

Reinforcing in person testimony by Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chair, Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), the Assembly requested "not less than" $60 million in aid to Armenia and $10 million in aid to Nagorno Karabakh. Regarding military assistance, Pallone and the Assembly requested $8 million in Foreign Military Financing and $2 million in International Military Education Training.

"The Armenian Assembly welcomes Congressman Pallone's testimony before the Subcommittee," said Kadian-Dodov. "We look forward to working with the Members to ensure continued and robust funding to Armenia and Artsakh. Given the ongoing Azerbaijani war rhetoric and their recent announcement about a sniper school, we also urge the Subcommittee to cease any military funding to Azerbaijan and to fully reinstate Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act," Kadian-Dodov added.

In addition to funding requests, Kadian-Dodov underscored the plight of Christian minorities in the Middle East, noting there are "significant communities living in that region" whose "population has diminished because of war and other pressures." The Assembly emphasized the ongoing danger of Turkey's actions, including last year's threats of the deportation of over 100,000 Armenians living in Turkey.

In its testimony, the Assembly also stated: "We strongly urge President Barack Obama to fulfill his campaign promise and expand upon his statement last year, wherein he used the Armenian term - "metz yeghern" - to describe the Armenian Genocide, and for this year, use the proper English term: Armenian Genocide."