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USAID Nominee Fails To Explain $25 Million Shortfall In Aid To Nagor

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  • USAID Nominee Fails To Explain $25 Million Shortfall In Aid To Nagor

    USAID NOMINEE FAILS TO EXPLAIN $25 MILLION SHORTFALL IN AID TO NAGORNO KARABAKH

    armradio.am
    03.12.2010 11:32

    Written responses by a senior United States Agency for International
    Development (USAID) nominee to a series of questions posed by Senator
    Robert Menendez (D-NJ) offer insight into the details of U.S.

    assistance programs in Nagorno Karabakh, but fail to explain the
    roughly $25 million shortfall between the level of aid intended
    by Congress and the amount that has actually been spent since this
    program was launched some 12-year ago, reported the Armenian National
    Committee of America (ANCA).

    The written answers were offered by Paige Eve Alexander, the White
    House's nominee to serve as the Assistant Administrator of USAID,
    as a follow up to her November 17, 2010 appearance before the Senate
    Foreign Relations Committee. During the November hearing, Alexander,
    avoided directly responding to the Senator's inquiries about whey
    only $35 million of the $60 million Congress intended for Nagorno
    Karabakh had been expended, choosing instead to commit, in general
    terms, to working to make sure that the "assistance goes to where it
    was intended Congressionally."

    Senator Menendez followed up, in writing, with even more specific
    inquiries, including the following question addressing the most recent
    instances of underfunding : "Starting in FY 2009, Congress allocated
    up to $8 million for Nagorno Karabakh, but the State Department
    continued to only allocate $2 million for each of these years. Please
    explain why USAID has not allocated the full amounts appropriated
    for assistance projects for Nagorno-Karabakh." Alexander responded,
    in writing, that: "If confirmed, I look forward to working closely
    with you on this important issue. I understand from briefings that
    USAID assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh has remained constant since
    2001 despite a sharp decline in the regional budget and a number
    of competing priorities. USAID is the only U.S. Government agency
    carrying out development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh. Funding provided
    by the American people has improved shelters, health facilities,
    schools, community centers, water systems, and loan access for
    microenterprises. The current identified priorities are completing the
    demining of Nagorno-Karabakh and providing access to potable water."




    From: A. Papazian
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