ANCA chairman shares Armenian community's disappointment with president Obama

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian shared with President Barack Obama today the Armenian American community's disappointment with his Administration's failure to honor his campaign pledges to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to foster the growth and development of Armenia.



In a May 18th letter to the White House, Hachikian addressed both the President's decision not to honor his repeated promises to recognize the Armenian Genocide, as well as his recent proposal to cut aid to Armenia by 38% even as he increases overall foreign aid spending and the level of assistance he seeks to the regions of Europe, Eurasia, and South/Central Asia.



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.