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Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianassembly.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
HOUSE FOREIGN AID PANEL APPROVES NEARLY $68 MILLION FOR ARMENIA FOR
FY 2006
Assembly Commends Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Knollenberg
Washington, DC - The Armenian Assembly praised members of a key House
Appropriations Subcommittee today for maintaining robust aid levels
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh despite ongoing overall reductions
to former Soviet states. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Foreign Operations
Appropriations Bill, which lawmakers passed by voice vote, calls for
$67.5 million for Armenia, up to $5 million for Nagorno Karabakh and
maintains military assistance parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan
with $5.75 million allocated to each country.
"Given the current budget restraints, we appreciate the leadership of
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and commend Chairman
Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and his Subcommittee for securing this assistance to
Armenia and Karabakh," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
"We also thank Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) for her steadfast
support."
The level of funding for Armenia is $12.5 million above the Bush
Administration's request submitted to Congress earlier this year.
The overall request level is part of a continued trend that reflects
a serious drop in U.S. assistance to the former Soviet states -
specifically from $555 million in FY 2005 to $477 million for FY 2006.
Today's action also allocated $5 million in Foreign Military Financing
and $750,000 for International Military Education and Training to
both Armenia and Azerbaijan, as requested by the Bush Administration.
These funds will improve inter-operability between Armenia's military
and its Western partners, upgrade Armenia's communication systems
and better its personnel training.
In April, the Assembly submitted testimony before the House Foreign
Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, outlining the need for
Congress to continue funding to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. The
Assembly said that such assistance has helped both countries move
forward as independent, market-reformed and democratic states.
Also that same month, the Assembly sent separate letters to
Chairman Kolbe and Ranking Member Lowey, reiterating the Assembly's
priorities for the South Caucasus generally, and Armenia and Karabakh
specifically. The Assembly also supported a similar letter to both
lawmakers that was initiated by Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ) and Congressman George Radanovich (R-CA) and supported by
43 additional Members of Congress.
The bill will next be considered by the full House Appropriations
Committee. Once the full House and Senate complete action on their
version of the bill, a joint House-Senate Conference Committee will
reconcile the differences.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2005-067
--Boundary_(ID_EuaYl2jYPZrQWdKj0P46MQ)--
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianassembly.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
HOUSE FOREIGN AID PANEL APPROVES NEARLY $68 MILLION FOR ARMENIA FOR
FY 2006
Assembly Commends Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Knollenberg
Washington, DC - The Armenian Assembly praised members of a key House
Appropriations Subcommittee today for maintaining robust aid levels
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh despite ongoing overall reductions
to former Soviet states. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Foreign Operations
Appropriations Bill, which lawmakers passed by voice vote, calls for
$67.5 million for Armenia, up to $5 million for Nagorno Karabakh and
maintains military assistance parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan
with $5.75 million allocated to each country.
"Given the current budget restraints, we appreciate the leadership of
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and commend Chairman
Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and his Subcommittee for securing this assistance to
Armenia and Karabakh," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
"We also thank Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) for her steadfast
support."
The level of funding for Armenia is $12.5 million above the Bush
Administration's request submitted to Congress earlier this year.
The overall request level is part of a continued trend that reflects
a serious drop in U.S. assistance to the former Soviet states -
specifically from $555 million in FY 2005 to $477 million for FY 2006.
Today's action also allocated $5 million in Foreign Military Financing
and $750,000 for International Military Education and Training to
both Armenia and Azerbaijan, as requested by the Bush Administration.
These funds will improve inter-operability between Armenia's military
and its Western partners, upgrade Armenia's communication systems
and better its personnel training.
In April, the Assembly submitted testimony before the House Foreign
Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, outlining the need for
Congress to continue funding to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. The
Assembly said that such assistance has helped both countries move
forward as independent, market-reformed and democratic states.
Also that same month, the Assembly sent separate letters to
Chairman Kolbe and Ranking Member Lowey, reiterating the Assembly's
priorities for the South Caucasus generally, and Armenia and Karabakh
specifically. The Assembly also supported a similar letter to both
lawmakers that was initiated by Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ) and Congressman George Radanovich (R-CA) and supported by
43 additional Members of Congress.
The bill will next be considered by the full House Appropriations
Committee. Once the full House and Senate complete action on their
version of the bill, a joint House-Senate Conference Committee will
reconcile the differences.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2005-067
--Boundary_(ID_EuaYl2jYPZrQWdKj0P46MQ)--