US HOUSE REINSTATES MILITARY AID PARITY BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net - Thursday the US House of Representatives voted in support of maintaining military aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan. As reported by the Armenian Assembly of America, the 365-41 vote on July 15 upheld an earlier House Appropriations Committee decision granting $5 million each in military financing to both countries. It should be noted that the Bush Administration's initial request was $8 million to Azerbaijan and only $2 million to Armenia. According to the Foreign Operations bill Armenia will get "not less than" $65 million as economic assistance in 2005, an increase of $3 million over the Administration's request. An additional $5 million in humanitarian assistance for Nagorno Karabakh was also allocated, while the Administration did not propose any assistance for Karabakh. It should be reminded that shortly before the vote, the House passed and included in the FY 2005 Foreign Operations bill an amendment introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) prohibiting Turkey from using U.S. foreign aid funds in its ongoing campaign to derail legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide.