ANCA: Samantha Power continues dodging questions about lack of USAID  Assistance to Artsakh

ArmInfo. U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power has  established a two-year pattern of dodging straightforward  Congressional inquiries - both in-person during legislative hearings  and in writing from dozens of legislators - regarding the lack of  USAID programs in Artsakh, a troubling trend that was on display,  once again, during her most recent appearance before the Senate  Foreign Relations Committee, reported the Armenian National Committee  of America (ANCA).  

Asked straightforward questions about the status of U.S. aid for  Artsakh by the panel's Chairman, Bob Menendez, Power - who has been  in office two years - again deferred, refusing to answer his question  or even meaningfully address the Senator's broader point, by saying  "I don't have that figure off the top of my head." Power took credit  for conducting "two assessment missions to the region," failing to  note that these were only conducted belatedly as a result of a  Congressional mandate spearheaded by Congresswoman Barbara Lee  (D-CA). Asked to provide the Foreign Relations Committee with these  assessments, Power agreed.  

"Clever dodges and mumbled deferrals don't distract anyone from the  fact that USAID - under President Biden and Administrator Power - has  operated zero U.S. humanitarian assistance programs in Artsakh," said  Aram Hamparian, ANCA Executive Director. "After countless  Congressional inquiries during its two years in office, it is all too  clear that they lack the will to help Artsakh, the strength to stand  up to Azerbaijan, or the courage to take ownership of this deeply  flawed policy." 

Video from the exchange is available here:   https://youtu.be/v56LICXEhZs 

In his opening remarks at the April 26th Senate Foreign Relations  Committee hearing, Chairman Menendez complained that at times USAID's  response to crises is "slower than molasses," noting, "Case in point:  The humanitarian crisis for Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh is only  getting worse.  Where are we? Why aren't we airlifting humanitarian  supplies to those Armenians facing blockade? We need to respond to  events quickly and we also need to address root causes." 

Video of Senator Menendez's remarks is available here:   https://youtu.be/Dsb0rlT5XUk 

With strong support from the ANCA, Congresswoman Lee was successful  late last year in including language in the Consolidated  Appropriations Act (P.L.117-103) directing that the U.S. Department  of State and U.S. Agency for International Development provide  Congress with an "assistance strategy for addressing humanitarian and  recovery needs arising from the [Artsakh] conflict" that identifies  the U.S.  "resources and programs," available for this purpose. The  Artsakh provision included a sixty-day timeline for the Biden  Administration to report back to Congress.  The deadline to submit  the assistance strategy was March 1st; Senate and House members have  yet to gain access to the report.