U.S. embassy in Armenia to review expenses over govt. shutdown

October 8, 2013 - 14:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. embassy in Armenia is likely to review certain expenses and events over the government shutdown, Zhamanak daily reported.

“The embassy continues its work based on the necessity of protecting the interests of the U.S. However, at present, some expenses and events might be reviewed,” the embassy spokesperson Taguhi Jahukyan said.

She also noted that the embassy’s activity won’t be fully halted.

The U.S. government closed non-essential operations on Tuesday, October 1 after Congress failed to strike a deal on a new budget.

Republicans and Democrats are blaming each other for the impasse.

The shutdown has left more than 700,000 employees on unpaid leave and closed national parks, tourist sites, government websites, office buildings, and more.

However, as one budget crisis raged in Washington DC, another one - potentially more dangerous - loomed in the coming weeks. On Oct 17, the U.S. government will run out of cash to pay its bills unless the debt ceiling is raised.

On both issues, the Republicans who control the House of Representatives have demanded concessions from Obama and his fellow Democrats in return for funding the government's continued operation and for raising the debt ceiling.

Chiefly, the Republicans demand the repeal, delay or defunding of a healthcare reform law - dubbed Obamacare - passed by the Democrats in 2010.

Major portions of that law, which was subsequently validated by the U.S. Supreme Court and was a major issue in the 2012 presidential election, took effect on Tuesday.

Photo: U.S. Embassy in Armenia FB page

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