US Senate Committee approves $65m aid for Armenia

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YEREVAN, July 29. /ARKA/. The US Senate Appropriations Committee approved a series of measures this week, including the Fiscal Year 2025 State Foreign Operations Bill, calling for $65 million in assistance for Armenia, the Armenian Assembly of America reported on Monday./pp

The Committee expressed its support for ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, instructing the Secretary of State and the USAID Administrator to consider the status of these negotiations when allocating funds./pp

However, it was noted that Azerbaijan's actions have hindered the peace process. Specifically, Azerbaijan rejected a meeting with Armenian counterparts during the NATO summit in Washington this month and made further demands, including amendments to Armenia's constitution, claims to a so-called Western Azerbaijan (referring to Armenia), and demands for the extraterritorial Zangezur corridor./pp

The Committee also emphasized the need for funds to provide humanitarian aid to those displaced by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, particularly refugees displaced since September 2023. Furthermore, the Committee supported continued humanitarian demining and activities to clear unexploded ordnance in areas affected by the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh./pp

The Armenian Assembly of America highlighted that this financial aid aims to support Armenia in its path toward reforms and integration with Euro-Atlantic structures, ensuring that both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term stability and development are addressed./pp br/p