Armenian Assembly of America alarmed by Bush Administration's request to boost military aid to Azerbaijan

"The Armenian Assembly today noted the Bush Administration's request for $62 million in assistance to Armenia in its Fiscal Year 2005 budget to Congress, but was deeply disappointed by the proposed $8 million in military assistance to Azerbaijan and only $2 million for Armenia. This request, which significantly exceeds Armenia's share, undermines the security parity agreement between the Administration and Congress," reads a press release of the Armenian Assembly of America of 3 February 2004.

Following the seminal events of September 11, Congress heeded the Administration's request by granting the President limited and conditional authority to offer foreign military assistance to Azerbaijan as long as the U.S. maintained parity in its security relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan. As a result, the President must consult with Congress prior to provision of any assistance under the agreement and report to Congress "in detail" on "the nature and quantity" of such assistance, its impact on the military balance between Armenia and Azerbaijan and negotiations over Nagorno Karabakh.

"The Administration's Foreign Military Financing (FMF) request continues the failed policy of obtaining from Congress asymmetrical security assistance for Azerbaijan," Executive Director of the Assembly Ross Vartian said. "In August 2003, an attempt was made by the Administration under cover of the congressional recess to increase Azerbaijan's FMF by up to $5 million."

Invoking broader U.S. interests in the South Caucasus, the Senate rejected this unbalanced approach.

"As we pointed out then, the principle of security parity is vital when two armies face one another over a fragile line of contact without intervening peace-keeping forces," Vartian continued. "As such, we oppose this request in that America, as co-chair of the OSCE's Karabakh peace effort, will not be perceived as an impartial mediator if it provides greater security assistance to one nation over another."

Yesterday's announcement is the first step in a lengthy budget process. The next step is for the House and Senate to review the Administration's request and resolve these inequities.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues.