While it’s still the same $40 million request for economic assistance as last year, this year’s budget includes cuts to Global Health and Child Survival assistance and less military aid.
WASHINGTON—As the Congress continues deliberations over appropriations for the remaining months of Fiscal Year 2011, President Barack Obama today announced his proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget numbers, which included a call for $40 million in aid to Armenia and a pro-Baku tilt in U.S. military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
“Armenian Americans, keenly aware of the ongoing economic hardships caused by Turkey and Azerbaijan’s blockades, are troubled that President Obama, although he kept his aid request for Armenia consistent with the proposal he submitted last year, is, in actual dollars, seeking a cut in aid compared to the amount approved last year by Congress,” said Aram Hamparian. “We are also very concerned that the President’s bid to tip the military aid balance in Baku, in the face of growing threats by Azerbaijani leaders to start a new war, will undermine the Nagorno Karabakh peace process.”