Azernews.Az

A US House of Representatives panel has reportedly offered to increase to $5 million from $2 million per year humanitarian assistance to the separatist regime in Nagorno Karabakh -- an Azerbaijani region occupied by Armenian armed forces since the 1990s war.

According to the Armenian National Committee of America, the United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs rejected the Obama administration`s proposal to cut assistance to Armenia by $7.5 million. As a result of Congressman Adam Schiff`s efforts it was proposed to increase assistance to Nagorno Karabakh by 150%, to keep the amount of assistance to Armenia unchanged, and to provide the same volume of military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The subcommittee called on the US government to formulate a strategy for assistance to the Armenian population of Georgia`s Samtskhe-Javakhetia region. It also called on US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to render assistance to Armenians and other Christian people who face a difficult situation after the recent turmoil in the Middle East. These proposals were included in the agenda of the Congress Appropriations Committee.

Calls for Karabakh recognition
Lawmakers in the U.S. state of Rhode Island have passed a resolution calling on President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress to recognize Nagorno Karabakh.

The resolution, adopted by the state`s House of Representatives, encourages Nagorno Karabakh`s ``efforts to develop as a free and independent nation.``

Robert Avetisyan, the self-proclaimed republic`s U.S. representative, voiced hope that the resolution would inspire other legislatures in the United States and elsewhere to adopt similar measures.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been in conflict for nearly three decades over the territory, with a fragile cease-fire holding since 1994 after Armenians occupied Nagorno Karabakh. OSCE-brokered negotiations have failed to result in a resolution.