US President approves bill to cut assistance to Armenia by $17.5 million

The bill, signed by President Bush, is an unchanged version of the budget expenditures item passed by the both houses a day earlier.

The 2008 overall package, known as the omnibus bill, envisions providing $58.5 million in economic assistance to Armenia within the Freedom Support Act.

The omnibus aid bill includes $19 million for Azerbaijan.

The United States will also render $3 million in foreign military financing (FMF) assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan in equality.

The 2008 budget items infuriated the US-based Armenian organizations.

/APA/