On April 3, 34 members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues sent a letter of strong support to the Appropriations Subcommittee on State Foreign Operation's Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-TX), requesting that "U.S. assistance to Armenia and other aid related provisions that contribute to peace and stability in the Caucasus region," be continued in the Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill.

“The people of Armenia continue to face the devastating impact of Turkey and Azerbaijan's dual blockades, illegal actions that, according to World Bank estimates from several years ago, cost Armenia roughly $720 million annually. Compounding the impact of these blockades is the approximately $680 million loss to Armenia's economy, in the form of increased transportation costs, higher prices, and lost investment, that resulted from the recent Russia-Georgia conflict. During this conflict, Armenia provided humanitarian, diplomatic and economic assistance to Georgia, facilitated the safe transit for U.S. and international officials, and helped rebuild damaged Georgian infrastructure”, the letter states.

The letter specifically calls for lifting of travel sanctions to Karabakh by State Department representatives or contractors.

"In the interest of promoting mutual understanding, regional cooperation, and a fair and lasting peace, the Committee directs the Department of State, to remove any official or unofficial restrictions on U.S.-Nagorno Karabakh travel, visitations, discussions, meetings, contacts, consultations, exchange programs, or other governmental or civil society communication, cooperation, or interaction", it says.

The letter outlined several key funding and policy priorities:

Enhancing Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act; Economic Assistance to Armenia; Military Assistance to Armenia; Assistance to Nagorno Karabakh; Confidence Building Measures and Removing restrictions on contacts and communication with Nagorno Karabakh.

“ Though a great deal has been accomplished since the US Congress first determined to appropriate funds for humanitarian assistance to Karabakh, much remains to be done,” says Arpi Vartanian, country director for the Armenian Assembly of America, whose lobbying in Washington D.C. is directed at aid for Armenia and NKR. “In particular, healthcare, education, potable and irrigation water, sanitation, de-mining, infrastructure development, and other issues remain urgent and critical. For instance, in some areas of Karabakh, clean, safe drinking water, available daily—something which all of us take for granted––is not available for much of the population. Mines still exist in Karabakh. If these are not professionally removed, people and livestock remain in danger”.

The Assembly urges the Subcommittee to maintain U.S. assistance to Armenia in FY 2010 at a level of “not less than” $70 million.

"This letter, in conjunction with last month's testimony from Assembly Board of Trustees Member Van Krikorian, underscores the strong bonds that exist between America and Armenia and highlights key foreign policy objectives," said Armenia Assembly of America Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.