USAID nominee fails to explain $25 M shortfall in aid to Nagorno Karabakh

Written responses by a senior United States Agency for International Development (USAID) nominee to a series of questions posed by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) offer insight into the details of U.S. assistance programs in Nagorno Karabakh, but fail to explain the roughly $25 million shortfall between the level of aid intended by Congress and the amount that has actually been spent since this program was launched some 12-year ago, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The written answers were offered by Paige Eve Alexander, the White House's nominee to serve as the Assistant Administrator of USAID, as a follow up to her November 17, 2010 appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. During the November hearing, Alexander, avoided directly responding to the Senator's inquiries about whey only $35 million of the $60 million Congress intended for Nagorno Karabakh had been expended, choosing instead to commit, in general terms, to working to make sure that the "assistance goes to where it was intended Congressionally."

Senator Menendez followed up, in writing, with even more specific inquiries, including the following question addressing the most recent instances of underfunding: "Starting in FY 2009, Congress allocated up to $8 million for Nagorno Karabakh, but the State Department continued to only allocate $2 million for each of these years. Please explain why USAID has not allocated the full amounts appropriated for assistance projects for Nagorno-Karabakh."

Alexander responded, in writing, that: "If confirmed, I look forward to working closely with you on this important issue. I understand from briefings that USAID assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh has remained constant since 2001 despite a sharp decline in the regional budget and a number of competing priorities. USAID is the only U.S. Government agency carrying out development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh. Funding provided by the American people has improved shelters, health facilities, schools, community centers, water systems, and loan access for microenterprises. The current identified priorities are completing the demining of Nagorno- Karabakh and providing access to potable water."

Alexander submitted, along with her written response, two charts, including one titled: "Completed and Current USAID Programs in Nagorno-Karabakh, 1998 to date: Nov. 15, 2010."