U.S. Administration cuts aid to Armenia, breaks military parity

PanARMENIAN.Net - Just two weeks after President Barack Obama failed to uphold his campaign promise to squarely reaffirm the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide, the president, in his Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 International Affairs budget request, broke another promise by cutting aid to Armenia, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). The budget request also increased aid to Azerbaijan and overturned long-standing Congressional policy with respect to military parity between Armenian and Azerbaijan.



"This budget is fundamentally flawed," said Bryan Ardouny, Assembly Executive Director. "It is incomprehensible that a country which already has billions of dollars in oil and gas revenue would receive an increase in U.S. funding while the neighbor it blockades sees its funding decrease. This budget request not only undercuts what Congress has appropriated, but does not help strengthen stability in the South Caucasus," added Ardouny. "In addition, this does not send the right message to Armenia, an ally whose relationship with the U.S. was described this week by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as 'a very lasting and durable one,'" concluded Ardouny.



On the campaign trail in 2008, then-Senator Obama issued a statement which read:



As President, I will maintain our assistance to Armenia, which has been a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and extremism. I will promote Armenian security by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and by working for a lasting and durable settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America's founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination. And my Administration will help foster Armenia's growth and development through expanded trade and targeted aid, and by strengthening the commercial, political, military, developmental, and cultural relationships between the U.S. and Armenian governments.



The proposed FY 2010 budget cut funding to Armenia, recommending $30 million in Economic Assistance. Additionally, the budget did not include funding for Nagorno Karabakh, while in FY 2009 Congress approved $8 million.



The Administration's FY 2010 funding proposal for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) calls for $4 million for Azerbaijan and only $3 million for Armenia. The proposed budget also suggests $900,000 for Azerbaijan versus $450,000 for Armenia in International Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance.



Ardouny stated that the Assembly will work with its friends in Congress to reverse this proposal on all levels. In previous years, the combined effort of the Assembly and the Armenian-American community has resulted in continuous security aid parity.