Fixing the administration’s foreign aid request

Published: Friday May 08, 2009

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President Barack Obama on May 7 submitted his first detailed budget proposal to Congress.

The administration has requested $30 million in aid to Armenia for fiscal 2010. This amount is larger than the amount requested for fiscal 2009 by the Bush administration, $24 million. But it is smaller than the amount actually allocated by Congressional appropriators, $48 million.

The figure allocated for fiscal 2008 was $58 million.

Azerbaijan would get $22.12 million in aid, up from less than $19 million allocated for 2009.

The administration has also asked for $3.45 million in military aid to Armenia and $4.9 million in military aid to Azerbaijan.

Congressional appropriators are likely to alter these figures significantly in the budget process, as they have done in the past. Nonetheless, the decision of the administration to make these particular requests is disturbing.

Maintaining assistance

During the presidential campaign, Mr. Obama had pledged, "As President, I will maintain our assistance to Armenia, which has been a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and extremism." The president should have asked for no less than the $48 million allocated last year.

U.S. aid has had a significant positive impact on the development of civil society, the rule of law, and democratic institutions in Armenia. Such capacity building remains crucial today.

The co-chairs of the congressional Armenian Caucus, Reps. Frank Pallone (D.-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R.-Ill.) recommend $70 million in economic and $5 million in military aid to Armenia, and a further $10 million for Nagorno-Karabakh.

These figures are more than reasonable. The administration is asking for more than $322 million in aid to Georgia as part of a $1 billion package pledged last year after Georgia's war with Russia.

As we have noted before, the war between Georgia and Russia inflicted a great deal of economic damage on Armenia. If the United States is going to help Georgia recover from the impact of that war, it should also help Armenia.

Maintaining parity

Any military aid to Azerbaijan is risky in view of its repeatedly declared intention to go to war over Nagorno-Karabakh. It is inconsistent with the administration's commitment to promote peace in the Caucasus.

Moreover, the fact that the administration proposes to provide more money to Azerbaijan than to Armenia violates the longstanding principle of parity in military aid. Azerbaijan focuses its military spending on arms designed for aggression. As long as it continues to do so and to threaten Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, it is irresponsible to help Azerbaijan in its efforts to strengthen its military.

As Congress begins the budget process, Armenian-Americans will need to work closely with the leaders and members of the Armenian Caucus and other friends on Capitol Hill to make sure that the United States is in fact helping promote peace and stability in the Caucasus, as well as the rule of law in Armenia.