ANCA urges Rubio to consider continuing humanitarian aid to Artsakh  refugees

ArmInfo.The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has called on newly sworn-in  U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio to consider continuing humanitarian aid to Artsakh refugees, amidst the suspension of all foreign aid for a period of 3 months.  

Aram Hamparian, Executive  Director of the Armenian National Committee of America, in a letter  to Rubio, congratulated the latter on his confirmation as U.S.  Secretary of State and expressed ANCA's readiness partner with him on  matters related to Armenia and the surrounding region. "I would also  like to raise an urgent matter-the need for an exemption to President  Trump's recent Executive Order 

"Reevaluating and Realigning U.S. Foreign AID" that would permit for  continued emergency food, life- saving medicine, medical services,  shelter, and subsistence assistance to Armenians forcibly displaced  from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) following Azerbaijan's ethnic  cleansing of the region in September 2023.  We attach profound  significance to your strong record  in the U.S. Senate (A+ ANCA  rating)- including your leadership on S.Res. 244 calling for  emergency humanitarian assistance to Artsakh Armenians -and were, of  course, proud to have endorsed your nomination," the letter,  published on the Organization's Twitter (X), reads.

Hamparian also expressed ANCA's readiness to engage with Rubio on the  full range of issues of concern to the Armenian community and its  coalition partners.  "Among these are the protected return of  Armenians to Artsakh, Azerbaijan's release of Armenian hostages, a  strong stance against Ankara's denial of the Armenian Genocide, and  concrete steps to hold the Aliyev government accountable-via  enforcement of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act and the  application of Global Magnitsky sanctions," the letter addressed to  Rubio reads.

Days earlier, the ANCA welcomed Trump's decision to halt funding for  Armenian grantees. "The US President has suspended USAID funding for  90 days starting at the beginning of the year, meaning that  grant-eating organizations will not be able to receive new grants  during this period, but will still retain funds that have already  been allocated," the ANCA announced on Twitter (X).  This post  angered those who were recipients of American grants. Representatives  from several NGOs criticized the Organization, accusing it of  "supporting the halt in aid to the people of Artsakh." Following his  inauguration on January 20, US President Donald Trump signed an  executive order suspending all foreign aid programs for 90 days  pending review by the Secretary of State.