U.S. Congressmen to consider additional assistance package to Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA), today, thanked Armenia for providing safe transit for U.S. officials during the recent Georgia conflict, during Committee consideration of a $470 million post-conflict assistance package to Georgia, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) told PanARMENIAN.Net



Noting the "ripple effects" of the crisis beyond Georgia's borders and the absence of Armenia in the bill, Chairman Berman pledged consideration of additional assistance to Armenia next year. He stated, in his opening remarks, that, "I note that the ripple effects of this crisis were clearly felt beyond Georgia's borders. The United States is grateful to the Armenian Government for providing safe transit for American and international officials, relatives of diplomats and NGO representatives and Georgia nationals. Although this bill does not include funding for other countries in the Caucasus region, it is my intention, when we consider the authorization of assistance next year, to examine the wider impact of this conflict and provide appropriate funding for Armenia and other affected countries."



Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), an outspoken supporter of post-conflict aid to Armenia and Javakhk, expressed reservations about language in the bill, which may support the construction of a new pipeline bypassing Armenia.



"We see that there are pipelines in Georgia," stated Rep. Sherman. "Why are there pipelines in Georgia? Because we funded an anti-Armenia pipeline that violates the rules of geometry - that does not use a straight line - but rather goes around Armenia in order to benefit those who are trying to isolate Armenia and now there is talk in this resolution of a new pipeline - again one designed to avoid going through Armenia territory, avoid building a peace pipeline between Azerbaijan and Armenia."



Rep. Sherman expressed regret that assistance to Armenia was not included in this initial $470 million allocation and pledged his support for future consideration. The Committee adopted the measure with a vote of 24 to 9. The remaining $530 million will be discussed in appropriations next year.



"We commend Chairman Berman and Rep. Sherman for highlighting Armenia's large scale economic losses as a result of the Georgia conflict," stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "While we had hoped that assistance to Armenia and Javakhk would be included in this first aid package to Georgia, we will continue to work with the Foreign Affairs and Appropriations committees to ensure that these funds are included in future assistance packages."



The Armenian government's post-conflict contributions have been in four key areas: 1) Safe transit for U.S. and international officials and relatives of diplomats, NGO representatives, and Georgian nationals; 2) reconstruction assistance for damaged Georgian infrastructure; 3) regional dialogue toward peace and stability, and; 4) alleviating the humanitarian burden on the Georgian government.