American Congressman call for increasing economic assistance to Armenia to $70 million in 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net - With Congressional appropriators in the early stages of crafting the Fiscal Year 2010 foreign aid bill, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) earlier today urged their House colleagues to join with them in backing the inclusion of a series of provisions aimed at strengthening U.S. ties to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, and bolstering the prospects for regional peace, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA.)



"We commend the leadership of Representatives Pallone and Kirk in ensuring that the foreign aid bill reflects America's support for Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh and furthers our nation's efforts to ensure a fair and lasting peace in the Caucasus region," stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward to working toward the adoption of the vital foreign aid priorities outlined in the letter sent today by the Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs."



In a March 24th "Dear Colleague" letter, Members of Congress were encouraged to co-sign a letter to Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), a longstanding supporter of the U.S.-Armenia relationship, and Ranking Republican Kay Granger (R-TX). The letter cited six key foreign aid priorities, including:





-- Enhancing restrictions on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan, as outlined in Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, by further limiting Presidential authority to waive the provision in light of continued Azerbaijani government incitement of a military solution of Nagorno Karabagh conflict.



-- Increasing economic assistance to Armenia from the FY2009 level of $48 million to $70 million.



-- Increasing military assistance to Armenia from FY2009 level of $3.3 million to $5 million.



-- Increasing the amount and scope of U.S. assistance to Nagorno Karabakh from the FY2009 level of $8 million in humanitarian aid to $10 million in both humanitarian and developmental assistance.



-- Including language "urging Azerbaijan to support confidence-building measures that facilitate interaction among the parties, in order to address regional security, resource management, infrastructure, development and people to people programs."



-- Removing restrictions on travel, contacts, and the free exchange of ideas between U.S. officials and the democratically elected leaders of Nagorno Karabakh.





Members of Congress will have until March 31st to join with Reps. Pallone and Kirk to support these U.S. foreign aid priorities as the foreign aid panel begins drafting the FY2010 foreign aid bill.