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AAA: Assembly Welcomes Senate Passage of Armenia PNTR Bill

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  • AAA: Assembly Welcomes Senate Passage of Armenia PNTR Bill

    Armenian Assembly of America
    122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
    Washington, DC 20001
    Phone: 202-393-3434
    Fax: 202-638-4904
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: www.armenianassembly.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    November 19, 2004
    CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
    Email: [email protected]


    ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY WELCOMES SENATE PASSAGE OF ARMENIA PNTR BILL
    President Bush Set to Sign into Law


    WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian Assembly of America hailed the vote by the
    United States Senate today to extend permanent normal trade relations
    (PNTR) to Armenia, ending a two year effort by lawmakers supportive of
    Armenian issues to enhance trade and investment between the United
    States and Armenia. The legislation was enacted as part of a
    comprehensive trade measure, known as the Miscellaneous Trade and
    Technical Corrections Bill (MTB.)

    PNTR status would remove a nearly 30-year-old provision requiring
    Armenia and other countries to periodically obtain presidential approval
    for continued access to low tariffs. In so doing, it would signal an
    upgrade in Armenia's status as a trading partner and should lead to
    additional trade agreements between the United States and Armenia.

    "Well aware that a robust economy is critical to Armenia's future
    development, passage of Armenia PNTR was an instrumental part of the
    Assembly's legislative agenda," said Armenian Assembly Board of Trustees
    Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. "We would like to thank Senate Majority
    Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) for his steadfast support of Armenia PNTR and
    for allowing Senate consideration of this bill. Additionally, we thank
    Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and it's
    Ranking Member Max Baucus (D-MT) for their active involvement and
    support as conferees to resolve differences between the House and Senate
    versions of the MTB."

    The House of Representatives, for its part, acted in early October to
    grant Armenia PNTR as part of the MTB.

    In addition to the heavy involvement of the Senators above, Hovnanian
    also commended Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senators Paul
    Sarbanes (D-MD) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) for introducing the PNTR bill
    (S.1557) and thanked the Administration for fully backing its
    enactment.

    "A key element to congressional action was the Administration's public
    support which was first announced at a pan-Armenian conference held by
    the Assembly, AGBU and Eastern and Western Diocese of the Armenian
    Church," said Hovnanian. "Community members were highly appreciative of
    this endorsement."

    Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian saluted the hardworking
    activists who played an integral role in the bill's passage. "The
    Assembly commends its nationwide network of grassroots activists and the
    Armenian community at large for their efforts in rallying support among
    congressional leaders," said Barsamian. "Without their unwavering
    advocacy efforts over the past two years, we would not have achieved
    today's success."

    The Assembly, since January, has been the only Armenian-American
    organization working in conjunction with the Ad Hoc Coalition on
    Tariffs, a group comprised of industries from almost every state that
    stand to benefit from the duty suspensions and other miscellaneous
    tariff provisions in the legislation. Last week, the Assembly and the
    Coalition successfully encouraged over 65 Senators to sign on to the
    Grassley-Baucus letter urging the Senate leadership to take the
    necessary procedural steps to ensure that the bill is enacted before the
    108th Congress ends.

    The next step in the legislative process is for the bill to be enacted
    into law by President Bush.

    The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
    nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
    Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
    organization.

    NR#2004-100

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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