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United States intends to cut humanitarian aid to Armenia by 17% in 2013
YEREVAN, February 25. / ARKA /. The United States intends to cut humanitarian aid to Armenia by 17%, fr om last year's $44.2 million to $36.6 million in 2013, the Department of State said in a draft report on financing of foreign programs.
According to the draft document, which will be submitted to the U.S. Congress, because of the budget deficit and the maximum lim it of public debt, funding cuts will affect virtually all budget costs, both external and internal.
The aid to Azerbaijan will decline by 21.8% from $20.8 million in 2012 to $16.3 million in 2013.
This year, no funding is earmarked for supporting the Armenian economy (last year the State Department released $40 million to that end). The 2013 draft project envisages $27.2 million for programs of cooperation with Armenia in the field of defense.
As noted in the draft report, the U.S. assistance is focused on democratic, economic and other reforms that would enhance regional security, in addition to diplomatic efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Turkish border.
The U.S. financial assistance will be used also for the prevention of trafficking and transport of weapons of mass destruction, drug trafficking, strengthening security of the Armenian NPP, defense reforms and fight against corruption and financing health programs. -0-
20:39 25.02.2013
