U.S. intends to cut funding for assistance programs in Caucasus and Central Asia

PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States intends to cut funding for assistance programs in most countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia, under the new budget proposed by the Obama administration on February 14.

Aid for Azerbaijan would see a significant decrease, while aid for Georgia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan would decrease only slightly from the budget proposed last year. Only Kazakhstan would see a significant increase in aid. Overall, the general aid budget for the eight countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia would decrease by about 4 percent, from $241 million to $232 million, while the overall State Department budget would increase by about 1 percent.

The administration's proposal needs to be approved by Congress, which can make changes to the appropriations. But the request gives a hint as to the strategic priorities of the White House. The newly released budget is for fiscal year 2012, which starts in October 2011.

Military aid to the region also would be cut under the proposal, by about 8 percent, from $36.7 million in last year's request to $34 million this year. More than half that aid, $18 million, is earmarked for Georgia. All the states in the region would see their military aid stay the same or decrease slightly, with the exception of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan's increase would be modest: it would get $100,000 in Foreign Military Financing aid, which allows countries to buy weapons and equipment.

Georgia also would get the largest share of civilian aid, $66.7 million, as compared to $68.6 million in last year's budget. The language in budget justification documents said that Georgia is being supported for its economic and political reforms.

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan would get the largest aid packages in Central Asia, at $40.8 million and $38.8 million, respectively. The State Department said that Kyrgyzstan was being prioritized to support the country’s efforts to establish a parliamentary democracy.

Tajikistan's aid package would “emphasize increasing the stability of Tajikistan, particularly given its potential impact on US efforts in Afghanistan,” the State Department wrote. “Programs will help strengthen the country’s border security and counter-narcotics efforts, strengthen local governance, combat extremism, and improve education and health,” Eurasianet reported.