DEMARCHE DELIVERED: NAJARIAN INVESTMENT

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001282 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, L/EB, L/CID, EB/OIA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EINV KIDE AM SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: NAJARIAN INVESTMENT DISPUTE Ref: STATE 132026 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) Per reftel we delivered points to Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development Tigran Davtyan, who is responsible for monitoring Armenia's international obligations under Bilateral Investment Treaties. Davtyan told us that, in his personal opinion, the Bilateral Investment Treaty did not apply to this case because the commercial dispute here is between two private parties. Davtyan raised the fact that the Najarians are not seeking a civil remedy against the GOAM, but lobbying the government to itself seek a criminal remedy against one of its citizens. Davtyan did agree with us that perception of a fair business environment is important, and said he would again alert the Minister about our interest in the case. GODFREY