Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04YEREVAN657
2004-03-18 14:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

ARMENIA PUSHING HARD ON JACKSON-VANIK

Tags:  ETRD ECON AM 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS YEREVAN 000657 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EB/TPP/BTA FOR JPSCHUTTE, USTR FOR
KKUHLMAN, USTR/GENEVA FOR AGREENIDGE

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA PUSHING HARD ON JACKSON-VANIK

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000657

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EB/TPP/BTA FOR JPSCHUTTE, USTR FOR
KKUHLMAN, USTR/GENEVA FOR AGREENIDGE

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA PUSHING HARD ON JACKSON-VANIK


1. (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please
protect accordingly.


2. (SBU) Deputy Minister of Trade Tigran Davtyan called for
a meeting with us March 17, 2004 to protest the failure of
the United States to graduate Armenia from the restrictions
of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. Davtyan said that Jackson-
Vanik puts Armenia in the same legal position (i.e., non-
application of WTO) with the United States as with Turkey, a
fact which he described as "uncomfortable." He also pointed
out that the U.S. graduated Georgia from Jackson-Vanik
within six months of its accession to the WTO. "We want
equal treatment" with Georgia, Davtyan insisted. He also
argued that uncertainty based on Armenia's year-to-year need
for waivers or findings of compliance discouraged investment
in trade with the United States. Davtyan added that he
avoids the topic of the United States' non-application
status when speaking to businessmen or the public, but that
as time goes on he foresees the situation becoming "very
embarrassing."


3. (SBU) Davtyan told us that the Armenian Embassy in
Washington had been instructed to deliver a similar message,
and that the GOAM had resolved to push the issue strongly on
all fronts because they feel that too much time has passed
with no movement forward.
WALKER