_:na40db367bfd943a49b367f6539f3cf1exb0
<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"[caption id=\"attachment_97418\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"576\" caption=\"Rep. Frank Pallone\"]<a class=\"highslide\" href=\"http://asbarez.com/App/Asbarez/eng/2011/08/0801pallone.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-97418\" title=\"0801pallone\" src=\"http://asbarez.com/App/Asbarez/eng/2011/08/0801pallone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"576\" height=\"385\" /></a>[/caption]\nWASHINGTON—Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) Monday wrote House Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers and Kay Granger, Chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to express his concerns of reports that the Subcommittee has broken precedent by failing to provide funding for humanitarian and development assistance in Nagorno Karabakh. In past years, funding for Nagorno Karabakh had broad bi-partisan support. Pallone expressed concerns about the repercussions this lack of funding would have in the region.\n“Since 1998 USAID and other agencies have been providing funds for humanitarian and other assistance programs in Nagorno Karabakh as a result of the Appropriations Committee’s work.  The decision to provide no funds to Nagorno Karabakh in Fiscal Year 2012 is a break with the practice of the Appropriations Committee, under both Democratic and Republican control,” Pallone wrote in the letter.\nThe full text of the letter appears below.\nAugust 1, 2011\n \nDear Chairman Rogers and Chairwoman Granger:\nI am writing with concern over recent reports that the State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee has reported out a bill that does not include funds for the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.  I am asking that as this bill moves to the full Appropriations Committee that language be included to provide for humanitarian and development assistance in Nagorno Karabakh.\nSince 1998 USAID and other agencies have been providing funds for humanitarian and other assistance programs in Nagorno Karabakh as a result of the Appropriations Committee’s work.  The decision to provide no funds to Nagorno Karabakh in Fiscal Year 2012 is a break with the practice of the Appropriations Committee, under both Democratic and Republican control.\nOn May 20, 2011 twenty-eight members of Congress, along with myself, on a bi-partisan basis wrote to Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Lowey requesting that $10 million be included for humanitarian and development programs in Nagorno Karabakh.  We pointed out that while there has been strong Congressional support for providing funds to Nagnorno Karabakh, the State Department has failed to come close to expending the funds intended to reach the people of Nagorno Karabakh.  This has left major gaps in our ability to provide humanitarian assistance and has put at risk the protection of the Nagorno Karabakh people who live under constant threat of attack from Azerbaijan.\nThere is no question that Nagorno Karabakh is an example of how democracy can be born from conflict and progress into a popularly supported government.  The United States’ role in helping to facilitate this process cannot be overstated.  I believe that it is more important than ever that the United States maintain a principled stand for peace in this region and support Nagorno Karabakh. \nSincerely,\nFRANK PALLONE, JR.\nMember of Congress"
<https://asbarez.com/pallone-concerned-about-lack-of-karabakh-assistance/?replytocom=21645>