Saturday, April 21 2018 12:09

ArmInfo. Direct U.S. assistance to care for Artsakh's (Nagorno Karabakh) most vulnerable citizens and the completion of lifesaving de-mining efforts were the main focus of foreign aid discussions with State Department and USAID officials and  key Senate and House appropriators this week, as the Armenian  National Committee of America (ANCA) and public health leaders worked  to build upon two decades of direct U.S. aid to the region.  

 

"We continue to articulate the case for continued U.S. aid to Artsakh - a  vital American investment in peace that has remained under relentless  attack by Azerbaijan since it was first launched with ANCA backing in  the Fiscal Year 1998 foreign aid bill," said ANCA Chairman Raffi  Hamparian, who was joined by internationally respected public health  expert Dr. Alina Dorian, ANCA Eastern Region Chairman Steve  Mesrobian, and ANCA Western Region advocate Leonard Manoukian for  several days of meetings with Administration and Congressional  leaders this week.  In addition to U.S. foreign aid priorities, the  delegation discussed expanding trade initiatives, Armenian Genocide  remembrance, the situation in Armenia, and a broad array of ANCA  foreign policy priorities.  "We are - with sufficient Congressional  funding for the HALO Trust - within clear reach of a mine-free  Artsakh and are, today, well positioned to meaningfully expand  Artsakh's regional rehabilitation services for the most vulnerable -  children, adults, and the elderly with disabilities.  The substance  and the symbolism of America's life-saving assistance to Artsakh  represents an investment in peace, one that we will not allow Baku to  block," said Hamparian.  Dr. Dorian, a professor at UCLA's Fielding  School of Public Health, who has worked on Artsakh health priorities  since 1994, offered first-hand accounts of the vital role the United  States must play in assisting Artsakh's population in greatest need.   Hamparian, Dorian, and the ANCA delegation shared these concerns with  Senate Appropriations Committee members Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and  House Appropriations Committee member David Valadao (R-CA), both of  whom led efforts to ensure continued Artsakh assistance as part of  the recently passed Fiscal Year 2018 foreign aid bill.  Similar  discussions were held with Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking  Democrat Robert Menendez (D-CA) and with the USAID Assistant  Administrator Brock Bierman.  In testimony submitted to the Senate  and House Appropriations Committees earlier this year, the ANCA  called for $10 million in U.S. assistance to Artsakh, including $6  million for ongoing de-mining and rehabilitation efforts and $4  million to implement Royce-Engel proposals to strengthen regional  peace.

The HALO Trust, which has been de-mining in Artsakh over the last 17 years, has destroyed over 8,733 anti-personnel mines, 2,584 anti-tank landmines, 180,858 small arms ammunition, 12,423 cluster bombs and 48,572 other explosive items in  Artsakh. The HALO Trust looks to complete Artsakh de-mining efforts  by 2020.