Washington, DC - Today, the Administration released its budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, which includes $40 million in economic assistance to Armenia, announced the Armenian Assembly of America. This amount reflects a $10 million increase over the Administration's request from last year, and is $1 million less than the level enacted in FY 2010.

 
"Given the ongoing blockades imposed upon Armenia by Turkey and Azerbaijan, coupled with Armenia's constructive and bold actions to normalize relations with Turkey without preconditions, at the same time Azerbaijan has done all it can to thwart that process as well as continuing to  incite a new war against Armenians the Assembly renews its request for not less than $70 million for Armenia," stated Assembly Executive Director, Bryan Ardouny.

 
The Administration's budget also repeated its asymmetrical request with respect to military parity between Armenian and Azerbaijan by calling for nearly one-half million more in military assistance to Azerbaijan, which breaches long-standing Congressional policy. The budget calls for $450,000 for International Military Education Training (IMET) for Armenia and $900,000 for Azerbaijan, while maintaining $3.5 million each in Foreign Military Financing (FMF).

As was the case in FY 2010, the Administration did not specifically allocate funding for Nagorno Karabakh, of which Congress had called for up to $8 million in U.S. assistance.

"We look forward to working with our friends in Congress to ensure robust assistance to Armenia and Karabakh," added Congressional Relations Associate Bianka Dodov. "We need to strengthen and expand the U.S.-Armenia relationship and make certain that Armenia has the tools necessary to succeed," added Dodov.

 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 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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