Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2007
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007
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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank our ranking member, Mrs. Lowey. I want to commend her and Chairman Kolbe for their hard work and leadership on this bill, and I am particularly pleased that the subcommittee called for a higher allocation to Armenia than requested by the administration and would like to personally thank him for maintaining and providing the needed assistance to Nagorno-Karabahk.
The President's budget request called for 20 percent more military aid to Azerbaijan than to Armenia. That request was a clear breach of an agreement struck between the White House and Congress in 2001 to maintain parity in U.S. military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. Given the fact that relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to be tenuous, it is imperative that the U.S. maintain a balanced approach. I am happy to see that the committee maintained that parity agreement despite the administration's request.
Unfortunately, the administration's budget also called for drastic cuts in economic assistance to Armenia, a nearly 33 percent decrease in humanitarian aid. Again, I was pleased to see the committee provided $62 million in U.S. aid for Armenia, representing a $12 million increase over the President's budget. The subcommittee also allocated $5 million for Nagorno-Karabahk.
I am also very pleased that the subcommittee rejected efforts by Azerbaijani's advocates to weaken section 907 restrictions on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan. Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act remains a fundamental element of U.S. policy toward the South Caucasus. Because Azerbaijan continues its blockade of Armenia, section 907 is essential.
As the co-chair of the Armenian Caucus, I strongly believe that technical and developmental assistance and investment is essential to Armenia. This funding is imperative to democratic stability and economic reform. The dual blockades of Armenia by Azerbaijan and Turkey continue to impede Armenia's economic well-being.
Despite these blockades, Armenia continues to successfully implement economic and democratic reforms. However, as long as Armenia suffers from blockades on its east and west borders, continued and robust U.S. assistance to Armenia will be needed to help minimize their impact.
Thank you again to the committee and the subcommittee.
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