[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[October 1, 1992]
[Page 1735]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 1735]]


Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on Assistance to Refugees of 
Nagorno-Karabakh
October 1, 1992

    The United States is contributing more than $2,150,000 to the 
American Red Cross (ARC) to provide emergency food and shelter for 
Armenian refugees who have fled the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and are 
currently in Armenia.
    The ARC will use these funds to provide food assistance to 15,000 
families. This assistance will be in the form of monthly food parcels 
meant to supplement nutritional shortfalls experienced by the refugee 
population. The funds will also be used to provide emergency shelter in 
the form of winterized tents. These tents will provide emergency shelter 
for up to 5,970 persons.
    This assistance is in addition to U.S. Government contributions to 
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) of more than 
$2,840,000 in support of its humanitarian aid to war victims, refugees, 
and other vulnerable groups in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. These 
contributions together provide a total of $5 million for humanitarian 
assistance to Armenian refugees and victims of conflict since January 
1992.
    In addition to these contributions, the President has authorized $2 
million in U.S. Government support for a CSCE Observer Force to promote 
a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The President 
has also offered Armenia $15 million under the Food for Progress 
program.
    They are an expression of the administration's support for the 
Armenian Government led by President Levon Ter-Petrosyan and of our 
commitment to help achieve a lasting peace in the area.