In an interview with the Armenian Council of America (ACA), U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff touched upon the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill for 2013 and its impact on foreign assistance to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh [Artsakh]. Armenian News-NEWS.am publishes an extract from the interview.

Asked to briefly discuss the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill and whether it will include Nagorno-Karabakh, the Congressman said that most of the foreign aid was cut as a result of the U.S. diminished budget resources. Nevertheless, the same level of funding for Armenia of about $40 million is maintained in the economic support funds.

Regarding Nagorno-Karabakh, this year at least $5 million will be aided to Artsakh, which more than doubles assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh.

As for some cuts due to the economy and whether Armenia or Artsakh will be affected negatively in any way, Schiff said that they will not. Moreover, Armenia and Artsakh are in a better place than any other region in the sense that they maintained the level of funding in the case of Armenia or increased funding in case of Artsakh.