Text of a Letter from the President to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 28, 2003

Text of a Letter from the President to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations

March 28, 2003

Dear Mr. Chairman: (Dear Representative:) (Dear Senator:)

On January 17, 2003, I exercised my authority to extend the waiver of section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, concerning assistance to Azerbaijan. In accordance with paragraph (g)(6) of the heading "Assistance for the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union" in title II of the Kenneth M. Ludden Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2002 (Public Law 107-115), I am providing a report prepared by my Administration that concerns assistance provided pursuant to this waiver. As required, the report describes the status of:

All training and assistance provided to the Government of Azerbaijan pursuant to the extension of the waiver of section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act;
The military balance between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the impact of U.S. assistance on that balance; and
Negotiations for a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the impact of U.S. assistance on those negotiations.

My Administration remains fully committed to continue working with the Congress and all concerned parties to bolster peace, prosperity, and freedom in the South Caucasus.

Sincerely,

GEORGE W. BUSH

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