Tweet
ARTSAKH FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT MAINTAINED
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee
approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 State, Foreign Operations
Appropriations Bill, which included specific report language regarding
Nagorno-Karabakh, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
The Senate report language recommended "assistance for victims of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in amounts consistent with prior years,
and for ongoing needs related to the conflict." In addition, the
Committee urged "a peaceful resolution to the conflict."
"Continued assistance for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh remains
an important priority," Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), who serves on the
Senate Appropriations Committee, told the Assembly.
In her letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara
Mikulski (D-MD), Assembly Board Member Annie Totah emphasized the
importance of U.S. aid to Armenia and Artsakh given the ongoing
Turkish and Azeri blockades.
The Senate action follows the House, which approved its version
yesterday. For its part, the House-approved language states, "within
the funds provided under this heading, the Secretary of State should
provide assistance for victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at
levels consistent with prior years, and for ongoing needs related to
the conflict." The House Appropriations Bill also restated the six
customary exemptions for humanitarian and other assistance to Section
907 of the Freedom Support Act. Section 907 was enacted in 1992 and
requires the Government of Azerbaijan to take "demonstrable steps
to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force" against
Armenia and Artsakh.
Overall, the Senate Bill represents a 5 percent cut whereas the
House Bill represents a 19 percent reduction below the FY 2013
enacted levels.
"Given the ongoing needs in Artsakh, I was pleased that in working
with the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, we were
able to craft language to ensure continued funding to Karabakh,"
House Appropriations Committee Member Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA)
told the Assembly.
Earlier this year, the Assembly, in its testimony highlighted
the importance of U.S. assistance to Artsakh as well as Armenia,
and much needed humanitarian assistance for Armenians in and those
fleeing Syria. Additionally, the Assembly's testimony highlighted
the inexplicable pardon of an Azeri officer who brutally murdered an
Armenian officer at a NATO partnership for peace training exercise and
urged that the Subcommittee "cease military assistance to Azerbaijan."
As the key Congressional panels approved U.S. foreign aid priorities
this week, the Assembly reported visiting over 125 Members of Congress
and hand-delivered the new 2013 Assembly Press Kit outlining funding
priorities for Armenia and Artsakh, including the Assembly's new FACT
SHEET on Azerbaijan.
"We thank our House and Senate friends for ensuring that critical
assistance to Artsakh is upheld," stated Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. "We look forward to working with our friends in Congress
as the appropriations process continues," he said.
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 non-partisan,
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
12:32 26/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/politics/view/30555
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee
approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 State, Foreign Operations
Appropriations Bill, which included specific report language regarding
Nagorno-Karabakh, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
The Senate report language recommended "assistance for victims of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in amounts consistent with prior years,
and for ongoing needs related to the conflict." In addition, the
Committee urged "a peaceful resolution to the conflict."
"Continued assistance for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh remains
an important priority," Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), who serves on the
Senate Appropriations Committee, told the Assembly.
In her letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara
Mikulski (D-MD), Assembly Board Member Annie Totah emphasized the
importance of U.S. aid to Armenia and Artsakh given the ongoing
Turkish and Azeri blockades.
The Senate action follows the House, which approved its version
yesterday. For its part, the House-approved language states, "within
the funds provided under this heading, the Secretary of State should
provide assistance for victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at
levels consistent with prior years, and for ongoing needs related to
the conflict." The House Appropriations Bill also restated the six
customary exemptions for humanitarian and other assistance to Section
907 of the Freedom Support Act. Section 907 was enacted in 1992 and
requires the Government of Azerbaijan to take "demonstrable steps
to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force" against
Armenia and Artsakh.
Overall, the Senate Bill represents a 5 percent cut whereas the
House Bill represents a 19 percent reduction below the FY 2013
enacted levels.
"Given the ongoing needs in Artsakh, I was pleased that in working
with the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, we were
able to craft language to ensure continued funding to Karabakh,"
House Appropriations Committee Member Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA)
told the Assembly.
Earlier this year, the Assembly, in its testimony highlighted
the importance of U.S. assistance to Artsakh as well as Armenia,
and much needed humanitarian assistance for Armenians in and those
fleeing Syria. Additionally, the Assembly's testimony highlighted
the inexplicable pardon of an Azeri officer who brutally murdered an
Armenian officer at a NATO partnership for peace training exercise and
urged that the Subcommittee "cease military assistance to Azerbaijan."
As the key Congressional panels approved U.S. foreign aid priorities
this week, the Assembly reported visiting over 125 Members of Congress
and hand-delivered the new 2013 Assembly Press Kit outlining funding
priorities for Armenia and Artsakh, including the Assembly's new FACT
SHEET on Azerbaijan.
"We thank our House and Senate friends for ensuring that critical
assistance to Artsakh is upheld," stated Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. "We look forward to working with our friends in Congress
as the appropriations process continues," he said.
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 non-partisan,
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
12:32 26/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/politics/view/30555