PRESS RELEASE Embassy
of the Republic of Armenia Armenian Government Delegations Visit Washington, DC An Armenian delegation headed
by Industry and Trade Minister Karen Chshmaritian visited Washington, DC on February
13-15, for negotiations with the World Bank on the Foreign Investment and Export
Facilitation Project. The $1.3 million project will strengthen the institutional
capacity of the Armenian Development Agency to work with foreign investors as
well as Armenian companies exporting their products and services to foreign countries.
The protocol signed at the conclusion of the negotiating session reflects the
concerns and issues raised by the Armenian delegation, which also included ADA
Chairman Vahagn Movsisian. The Armenian proposals will also be addressed in the
Development Credit Agreement that will launch the project. It is expected that
the Agreement will be signed in Yerevan in March, while the project is expected
to be completed by 2004. The Armenian delegation, joined by Deputy Foreign minister
Ruben Shugarian, also met with officials from U.S. Trade Representative's office
and State Department's NIS Assistance Coordinator Amb. Bill Taylor, with an agenda
encompassing Armenia's accession to WTO, the results of the latest session of
the U.S.-Armenia Task Force, and promotion of small and medium business in Armenia.
Deputy Minister Shugarian was in Washington, DC on a two-day working visit, for
regular bilateral political consultations with the State Department and National
Security Council officials. He met with Assistant Secretary of State for Eurasia
Elizabeth Jones, National Security Council Senior Director for Eurasia Daniel
Fried, and other U.S. officials. Deputy Minister Shugarian also met with Congressional
Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Frank Pallone and Rep. Joe Knollenberg, as well as representatives
of the Armenian-American political groups. On February 15, Mr. Shugarian made
a presentation at the Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington
University. The topic of the presentation was Armenia's foreign policy and regional
issues in the aftermath of September 11 terrorist attacks, and the audience included
GW faculty and students. The Q&A session following the presentation addressed
Armenia's accession to the European structures, Armenian-Turkish relations, and
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. |
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