Over 30 U.S. House representatives request more financial aid for Armenia and Karabakh

YEREVAN, March 21. /ARKA/. Over 30 Members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues sent today a letter to House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-KY) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) outlining priorities for U.S. assistance to Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, the Armenian community in the Javakheti region of Georgia and Christian communities at risk in the Middle East, , reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

The letter, spearheaded by Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), urged at least $50 million in aid to Armenia and at least $5 million in aid to Nagorno Karabakh.  

Expanding "on U.S. assistance previously targeted to the largely Armenian-populated region of Samtskhe-Javakheti (Javakhk) in south-central Georgia, including funding for job-creation programs and ongoing improvements to transportation and communication infrastructure," the letter requested that 10 percent of U.S. funding to Georgia be allocated to this region.

In response to "recent events in the Middle East, fr om the Arab spring and unrest in Syria to the continued developments in Iraq and elsewhere," and the challenges faced by minority populations within areas of conflict, the letter called for U.S. humanitarian and resettlement assistance "specifically targeted to Armenian and other Christian populations as well as other minority communities" at risk. 

Moreover, the letter also highlighted Azerbaijan's ongoing war rhetoric against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, and recommended that Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act be strengthened by adding a new section:  "In the last fiscal year, Azerbaijan has not taken hostile action, either through military force or incitement, including but not lim ited to threatening pronouncements by government officials, toward Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh, and has both stated and demonstrated its commitment to pursuing a lasting peace with Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh through solely non-violent means."

Additionally, the letter, citing the importance of promoting peace and stability and to foster dialogue, urged the removal of "any official or unofficial restrictions on U.S.-Nagorno Karabakh travel, visitations, discussions, meetings, contacts, consultations, exchange programs, or other governmental or civil society communication, cooperation, or interaction."

On December 21, the U.S. Congress released its budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 that says Armenia is slated to receive slated to receive $40 million in U.S. assistance, and Nagorno-Karabakh – nearly $2 million. The overall U.S. assistance to European, Eurasian and Central Asian states, including Southern Caucasus, makes up $626,7 million.

The Congress approved financing proposed by the Obama Administration in the following requests: $40 million for Armenia, $16.6 million for Azerbaijan, and 66 million for Georgia. –0--