Clinton reaffirms U.S. assistance focus on Javakhk

PanARMENIAN.Net - In response to a direct written question from Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA), U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton officially reaffirmed the Obama Administration's focus of "significant assistance resources toward programs that benefit the Samstke-Javakheti region of Georgia," the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reported.

The Secretary's written statement came in response to a formal "Questions for the Record" submitted by Representative Sherman during her February 29, 2012 appearance before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. In her answer, Secretary Clinton noted that the U.S. government, through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, had "rehabilitated approximately 222 kilometers of a main road linking Tbilisi with Samtskhe-Javakheti to foster economic development in the region through increasing exports of agricultural products." She also listed priority areas for continued U.S. assistance, including cattle farming, trout farming, potato production, dairy processing, feed production and beekeeping, as well as support for private sector development via the promotion of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector.

"We appreciate Congressman Sherman's principled leadership in supporting the economic welfare of Javakhk and welcome the Secretary's reassurance that the Obama Administration places a priority on aid programs to this historically Armenian-populated region," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "We will continue to work with Congress and the Administration to support the targeting of 10% of U.S. assistance to Georgia to the Javakhk."

During a March 23rd House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Rep. Sherman questioned US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah about the need for targeted U.S. assistance to the population in Javakhk. USAID Director Shah noted that “On Georgia, and specifically the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, that you were referring to, we have been working with specific programs that deal with agricultural modernization, social development, maternal health and certain health and infrastructure efforts as well as support for civil society groups. We have increasingly tried to do that work in consultation with Armenian American communities and with an eye toward launching specific public-private partnerships with those communities.”