The U.S. will Support Armenia to Weaken Economic Dependency from Russia
The issue of economic assistance to Eurasia in 2017 has been covered in the U.S. Congress, VOA informs.
The United States will help Armenia to improve economic condition and integrate into the South Caucasus energy system. Thomas Melia, USAID’s Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia, stated this in Washington D.C.. Touching upon hearings in the Congress Melia introduced foreign aid priorities in the period of 2017:
“Our economic assistance directed to Armenia will allow the latter to decrease economic dependency from Russia. It’ll also allow Armenia to integrate into regional energy systems. Some part will be directed to strengthening of local self-governance inside the country.”
Based on the state budget draft bill by the White House, economic assistance directed to Armenia in 2017 will grow by 22%, thus comprising USD 22 million. Besides, the U.S. will direct more than USD 3 million for the development of Armenia’s military and legal systems. Many of the U.S. legislatives, however, still anticipate to considerably increase economic assistance provided to Armenia during the budget hearings. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher stressed that the U.S. has a crucial feature—consciousness of sharing with others.
“I have always been proud with generosity of the American people, they are always ready to stretch a hand for the needy people, even if they have never met them.”
Alina Romanowski, Coordinator for U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia, during the hearings introduced the four main directions of economic assistance in the territory of Eurasia. In particular, they include strengthening of countries’ independence and sovereignty, helping countries to defend from external pressure, fight against corruption and provision of rule of law, strengthening of democracy and protection of freedom of speech, as well as maintenance of peace.
“The fourth priority of the U.S. economic assistance is provision of peace for the countries of the region, which has appeared under a serious threat.”
By the way, economic assistance directed to Azerbaijan is twice less than that allocated to Armenia, which is mainly directed to the development of democracy and open society. According to the representative of the U.S. International Development Agency, Azerbaijan’s serious regress in that field was taken into account while making the decision.
