Thursday, June 8 2017 14:09

ArmInfo.The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomes a renewed Congressional effort - spearheaded by Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Jackie  Speier (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and other Democratic members of the Armenian Caucus - to reverse "harmful cuts" to U.S. foreign aid to Armenia included in the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget, ANCA press service informed. 

"Congressional leadership is essential in rolling back the  President's proposed deep cuts in U.S. aid to Armenia," said ANCA  Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Attempts to slash aid to Armenia  need to be met with strong bipartisan opposition and a renewed focus  on empowering Armenia's aid-to-trade transition, including the  negotiation of a badly needed U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty and  establishment of direct Los Angeles to Yerevan commercial and cargo  flights."

ANCA notes that more than 25 congressmen sent a letter to Chairman  Hal Rogers in which they expressed concern over the decision of the  Trump Administration to reduce financial assistance to Armenia by  67%.  They called for the restoration of financial assistance both   to Armenia and Artsakh, noting that as a result of funding cuts, a  number of programs implemented in the country, including in such  areas as education and healthcare, could suffer.

The President's FYI8 budget calls for a 67 percent cut to U.S.  foreign aid to Armenia, reducing overall aid from $20.4 million in  FY16 to $6.8 million in FY18. These cuts come at a critical time in  Armenia's history as it continues to integrate into the global  economy and advance democratic institutions and political freedoms at  home and will directly limit the ability of the U.S. to promote  American standards and values within a critical ally in a sensitive  region of the world.

To note, the Appropriations Committee of the US Senate in 2017  provided Armenia with financial aid of $24.1 million and Azerbaijan -   $ 10.9 million. The Senate also recommended granting $ 1 million as  military assistance and another $ 600,000 for military training. In  general, the allocated aid to Armenia was $ 3 million more than the   US President Barack Obama asked from the budget. The sum of   assistance to Artsakh, provided since 1998, remained unchanged. To   recall, the Committee on Appropriations of the US Senate in the   financial year 2016 provided Armenia with financial assistance in the   amount of $ 20.06 million, as well as $ 1.7 million in military aid   and $ 600,000 for military training. For Azerbaijan and Georgia, US   lawmakers proposed to provide $ 8.778 million in financial assistance   and $ 54 million, respectively.