USA promised to work out humanitarian assistance to be provided to NKR afterwards

PanARMENIAN.Net - "In response to news reports carried recently by several media outlets regarding assistance from the United States for Armenia, I would like to inform you of the following:



Since international assistance to Armenia began over twenty years ago with the relief effort following the 1988 earthquake, the U.S. government has provided almost two billion dollars of humanitarian aid and development assistance for Armenia's economic, social and governance sectors. The Obama Administration's request for Armenia for FY 2010 ($30 million) is 25 percent above the last Bush Administration budget request ($24 million was requested for FY 2009; Congress doubled this request to $48 million). The actual level of assistance for Armenia for FY 2010 has not yet been determined by the U.S. Congress," US Ambassador to Armenia Mari Yovanovich stated.



"With respect to funding for Nagorno-Karabakh, there has never been a budget request sent to Congress because there is no mechanism for doing so in the budget process. Rather, the humanitarian assistance provided to Nagorno-Karabakh is worked out afterwards, during the budget negotiation between Congress and the Administration.



The United States remains committed to its longstanding partnership with Armenia and the Armenian people. Helping the people of Armenia has been, and continues to be, a high priority."



US administration in his Fiscal Year 2010 International Affairs budget requested cut aid to Armenia. The budget request also upsets the balance of military aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan.



In particular, the U.S. administration proposes to provide $30 million in Economic Assistance. Additionally, the budget did not include funding for Nagorno Karabakh, while in FY 2009 Congress approved $8 million.



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