US Congress may increase aid to Armenia (video)
More than two dozen U.S. Congressmen called on their colleagues to increase aid to Armenia in 2018. In a June 6th letter to Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY), the leaders of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, over 25 U.S. Representatives raised alarms about President Trump’s call for a 67% cut to U.S. foreign aid to Armenia (reducing overall aid from $20.4 million in FY16 to $6.8 million in FY18), urging the restoration of aid levels for both Armenia and Artsakh. "As Members who care deeply about strengthening the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Republic of Armenia, we urge you to reject the harmful cuts to U.S. foreign aid to Armenia included in the President's Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) budget," the Representatives stated in the letter. "At a time of tremendous global uncertainty, the U.S. should continue to foster the progress of its allies, not retreat from its responsibilities as the world's leading democracy. As the U.S. and Armenia commemorate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations, we urge the committee to reject the harmful cuts to U.S. aid to Armenia proposed by the President's FY18 budget," they continued. U.S. foreign included in the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget foresees cuts not only for Armenia (67%), but also for Georgia (57%), Ukraine (69%) and Azerbaijan (over 90%). In 2016, the United States provided nearly $20 million to Armenia and $10 million to Azerbaijan. Trump’s administration proposes to provide $ 6.8 million to Armenia and $1 million to Azerbaijan. Thus, the draft budget proposes to cut aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan by 67% and 90 % respectively.
