USA to reduce financial aid to Armenia by 67%
ArmInfo. The administration of the US President Donald Trump released its budget recommendations for the fiscal year 2018 (FY18) before the Congress.
As the press service of the Armenian Assembly of America told ArmInfo, the proposed budget for FY18, called "A New Foundation for American Greatness," recommended a 29 percent cut overall and a 60 percent reduction in assistance to Europe and Eurasia.
Under the Administration's budget, aid to Armenia would be reduced by 67 percent, dropping from $20.4 million in FY16 to $6.8 million proposed for FY18. Compared to other post-Soviet nations in the region, Georgia and Ukraine are slated for a 58 percent decrease and a 70 percent decrease in aid, respectively. Assistance to Azerbaijan is cut by 90 percent with a total of $1 million envisioned.
"The Assembly will continue to advance key priorities for the benefit of the Armenian people and the strengthening of U.S.-Armenia relations," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "As the current Administration reduces foreign aid across the board, we must ensure that Armenia has the resources to address the compelling humanitarian needs as a result of the current refugee crisis and Turkey's blockade, as well as Azerbaijan's ongoing and deadly ceasefire violations," Ardouny added.
To note, the Appropriations Committee of the US Senate in 2017 provided Armenia with financial aid of $24.1 million and Azerbaijan - $ 10.9 million. The Senate also recommended granting $ 1 million as military assistance and another $ 600,000 for military training. In general, the allocated aid to Armenia was $ 3 million more than the US President Barack Obama asked from the budget. The sum of assistance to Artsakh, provided since 1998, remained unchanged. To recall, the Committee on Appropriations of the US Senate in the financial year 2016 provided Armenia with financial assistance in the amount of $ 20.06 million, as well as $ 1.7 million in military aid and $ 600,000 for military training. For Azerbaijan and Georgia, US lawmakers proposed to provide $ 8.778 million in financial assistance and $ 54 million, respectively.