Obama failed to uphold another promise
U.S. President Barack Obama called for a 38% cut in aid to Armenia, a 20% increase in aid to Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Just two weeks after President Barack Obama failed to uphold his campaign promise to squarely reaffirm the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide, the president, in his Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 International Affairs budget request, broke another promise by cutting aid to Armenia, notes the ANCA.
President Obama's budget calls for $30 million in U.S. aid to Armenia, down 38% from the FY 09 allocation of $48 million. Additionally, the budget did not include funding for Nagorno Karabakh, while in FY 2009 Congress approved $8 million.
The proposed FY 2010 budget cut funding to Armenia, recommending $30 million in Economic Assistance, a decrease from FY 2009 level of $48 million. Additionally, the budget did not include funding for Nagorno Karabakh, while in FY 2009 Congress approved $8 million.
The Administration's FY 2010 funding proposal for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) calls for $4 million for Azerbaijan and only $3 million for Armenia. The proposed budget also suggests $900,000 for Azerbaijan versus $450,000 for Armenia in International Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance.
On the campaign trail in 2008, then-Senator Obama issued a statement which read:
"As President, I will maintain our assistance to Armenia, which has been a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and extremism. I will promote Armenian security by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades."
The Armenian National Committee of America will work with its friends in Congress to reverse this proposal on all levels.
