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AAA: House-Senate Conferees Approve Aid Levels

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  • AAA: House-Senate Conferees Approve Aid Levels

    PRESS RELEASE
    For Immediate Release
    December 9, 2009
    Contact: Press Department
    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: (202) 393-3434

    HOUSE-SENATE CONFEREES APPROVE AID LEVELS

    $41 MILLION FOR ARMENIA AND $8 MILLION FOR KARABAKH

    Washington, DC - Finalizing its work on six different appropriations
    measures, the Conferees in the House and Senate approved a Consolidated
    Appropriations Bill for 2010, which provides $41 million for Armenia and
    $8 million for Nagorno Karabakh, reported the Armenian Assembly of
    America (Assembly). The bill also maintained parity with respect to
    Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Armenia and Azerbaijan at $3 million
    each. The Conferees did not delineate funding to either country
    regarding International Military Education Training (IMET).

    "The Assembly appreciates the continued support of its friends in the
    House and Senate in helping secure a positive outcome," said Assembly
    Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Given Turkey's ongoing blockade of
    Armenia, which is reinforced by Azerbaijan, U.S. assistance remains
    critically important," added Ardouny.

    The Conferees stated that they "expect the Department of State to
    continue to emphasize the use of civil society in implementing programs
    and activities in Armenia." The $41 million approved reflects a $7
    million drop from the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 level, but is $11 million
    over the Administration's request.

    On assistance to Artsakh, the "conferees direct[ed] that up to
    $8,000,000 be made available for programs and activities in
    Nagorno-Karabakh." This matches the level of funding allocated by
    Congress in FY 2009.

    Earlier this year, in support of robust assistance to Armenia and
    Nagorno Karabakh, Board of Trustees Member Van Krikorian testified
    before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign
    Operations, and Related Programs, outlining the Assembly's priorities
    with respect to funding and U.S. policy in the South Caucasus region.

    See testimony here:
    http://www.aaainc.org/fileadmin/aaainc/pdf_1/2009 _Q1/Foreign_Ops_Testimo
    ny_FY_2010_VAN.pdf

    With the work of the Conferees completed, the full House is expected to
    vote on the Consolidated Bill as early as this friday. Once voted on by
    the House and Senate, the Bill will be sent to President Barack Obama
    for his signature into law.

    Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
    Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
    and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3)
    tax-exempt membership organization.
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