Wednesday, May 6 2020 12:43

ArmInfo.The decision of the US Administration to stop providing financial assistance to Artsakh is in no way determined by its relations with Azerbaijan. Tatevik Hayrapetyan, MP of the My Step parliamentary faction, expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.

"As a co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the United States simply cannot help being neutral, including on this issue. As a lawmaker involved in the Armenian-American friendship group, I can say that during our visit to the United States our colleagues assured us that the reduction in American financial assistance affects all the beneficiaries. This is due to the general strategy of the United States, there is no political context and the reduction is in no way directed against Armenia or Artsakh, "she said.  According to Hayrapetyan, the Armenian MPs raised this issue during all meetings with their American colleagues.  The latter expressed their readiness to assist in its resolution and have already taken certain steps in this direction. In her opinion, the efforts of parliamentarians in this matter are complemented by the active work of the Armenian community of the United States. According to the lawmaker, recently very important changes and achievements have been recorded in the Armenian-American relations, which will very soon become public. And today, important platforms for cooperation are being created at the parliamentary level.

As ArmInfo previously reported, more than thirty American senators joined the letter signed by 75 congressmen with the initiative to increase assistance to Armenia and Artsakh in 2021. The letter was sent to representatives of the House Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations. Congressmen, in particular, are asking for $ 1.5 million for mine clearance in Artsakh. As well as $ 100 million for assistance in the fields of economy, management, the rule of law and security of Armenia through the Department of State and USAID. It is also about removing any official and unofficial restrictions on travel to the United States, on communication or contacts with representatives of the Artsakh government. The letter calls for the suspension of military assistance to Azerbaijan until confirmation of the cessation of all aggressive actions against Armenia and Artsakh.  In Hayrapetyan's opinion it is difficult to forecast whether the initiative of the American parliamentarians will be successful, given the already completed deadline for the implementation of this American assistance program. In this light, she also recalled the general policy of the Trump administration to reduce financial assistance to other countries. In this light, according to her estimates, any outcome is possible.

''Nevertheless, even if the American funding for the mine clearance program in Artsakh ceases, it must be continued by alternative means.  Artsakh must be completely cleared of mines - this is a very important humanitarian and not a military problem. This is a security issue, a matter of life of civilians,"  the parliamentarian summarized.