MINISTER OF JUSTICE: PROTOCOLS REQUIRE NO NEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000825 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL TU AM SUBJECT: MINISTER OF JUSTICE: PROTOCOLS REQUIRE NO NEW MAJOR LAWS REF: A. YEREVAN 803 ¶B. YEREVAN 789 AND OTHERS Classified By: Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, reasons 1.4 (b,d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) On November 23, Armenia's Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielian told the Ambassador that the Turkey-Armenia protocols do not require Armenia to enact any new major laws. He nonetheless stated that minor changes to existing legislation are being contemplated in order to increase protections for Armenia's domestic producers. He noted that President Sargsian had asked the government to avoid any inflammatory legislation at this sensitive time, and he dismissed recent attempts by the nationalist Dashnak party to introduce such legislation as "populism." The Ambassador encouraged the minister to start thinking about ways the U.S could support the border opening and establishment of diplomatic relations should the protocols be ratified. END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- NO NEW MAJOR LEGISLATION REQUIRED IN CASE OF RATIFICATION -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) At a lunch hosted by the Ambassador on November 23, Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielian stated that he had provided his review of the Turkey-Armenia protocols to the government on two occasions (most recently prior to their submission to the Constitutional Court on November 20),and that he had concluded both times that Armenia's ratification would not require any major changes to existing law. He said WTO commitments would regulate Armenia's trade with Turkey in the event of the border being opened, and that any new cross-border issues that emerge would be handled within the framework of the sub-commissions envisioned by the protocols. He acknowledged that the government would introduce "very mild minor laws" to protect Armenia's domestic producers. (Note: The protocols are currently being reviewed by Armenia's Constitutional Court, the second step of the ratification process. After that review, the protocols will be presented to the National Assembly for review and, according to Minister Danielian, the Ministry of Justice will be responsible for answering parliamentarians' questions on the legal ramifications of ratification. End Note.) -------------- -------------- PRESIDENT SARGSIAN AGAINST INFLAMMATORY LEGISLATION -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) The Justice Minister told the Ambassador that President Sargsian had urged the government not to introduce any inflammatory legislation at this sensitive time. He said the president specifically opposed any introduction of legislation designed to amend current legislation on controlling foreign ownership. Minister Danielian noted that Armenia's current laws on foreign ownership were much weaker than Turkey's. ¶4. (C) The Justice Minister referred to recent attempts by the nationalist Dashnak party to introduce tougher restrictions on foreign ownership as "populism" designed to "cast black light" on the protocols. Danielian disputed Dashnak allegations that the protocols implied Armenia's ratification of agreements concluded by third parties, such as the Kars Treaty. He said he went to the media to explain this, and even gave an interview to RFE/RL on what the protocols do/don't envisage. -------------- -------------- AMBASSADOR SAYS U.S. READY TO SUPPORT BORDER OPENING -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador encouraged the Justice Minister to begin thinking of ways that the U.S. could support the post-ratification process, prior to and following the opening of the border and establishment of diplomatic relations. Minister Danielian expressed his appreciation, and said that Armenia's ministries and national agencies were currently submitting reports and recommendations to the Presidency with proposals for post-ratification actions. YOVANOVITCH