[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 78 (Tuesday, June 20, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H4779-H4780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       MOVING THE ACCESSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA TO THE WTO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, on the eve of last year's meeting of the 
World Trade Organization in Seattle, I was joined by 11 of my 
colleagues in this House on a bipartisan basis in calling on U.S. Trade 
Representative Charlene Barshefsky to help move the accession of the 
Republic of Armenia to the WTO. Recently the Trade Representative's 
office provided me with an update on the administration's negotiations 
with Armenia for its accession to the WTO. In his letter, Trade 
Representative official Richard W. Fisher indicates that the United 
States strongly supports Armenia's WTO membership and its integration 
into the world economy.
  Quoting from Mr. Fisher's letter, ``Armenia has made impressive 
progress on economic reform and transition to a market economy under 
very difficult economic circumstances. We believe that Armenia's 
implementation of WTO provisions will facilitate further progress 
towards increased investment and economic growth and that its 
acceptance of WTO market access commitments will foster Armenia's 
further integration into the global trading system.''

                              {time}  2330

  Madam Speaker, the letter goes on to state that, ``In the last year, 
Armenia has made substantial progress in its negotiations to complete 
the accession process, both with the United States and with other WTO 
members. Market access negotiations on tariffs, services, and 
agricultural supports are very close to completion, and Armenia has 
reported that its efforts to enact legislation to implement WTO 
provisions are also in the last stages.''
  Mr. Fisher notes that WTO delegations will meet in July to further 
assess Armenia's progress, and that the administration shares the goal 
of many of us in Congress that these negotiations be completed as soon 
as possible.
  Madam Speaker, this is certainly very encouraging news. Since 
achieving its independence about a decade ago, Armenia has sought to 
integrate its economy with its immediate neighbors, as well as with the 
larger world.
  While Armenia has achieved strong bilateral ties with the United 
States, Europe, and other regions of the world, unfortunately achieving 
economic integration in its immediate neighborhood has proven more 
difficult, through no fault of Armenia's, I should add.
  Armenia's neighbors to the west, Turkey, and to the east, Azerbaijan, 
continue to maintain devastating economic blockades. Armenia has sought 
to normalize relations with its neighbors, but has been snubbed.
  Still, despite the isolation imposed on this small landlocked Nation 
by hostile neighbors, Armenia endeavors to become an integral part of 
the world community through a range of international organizations, 
including NATO's Partnership for Peace program and the Organization for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe, the OSCE, among others.
  What Armenia needs most is economic development. Membership in the

[[Page H4780]]

WTO will help Armenia attract investment and reach new markets under a 
predictable international framework.
  Madam Speaker, economic development for Armenia over the longer term 
will be based on that Nation's ability to establish trading networks, 
attract investment, and enact the kinds of free market economic 
policies that foster sustained prosperity.
  Armenia's elected leaders know this, but in the shorter term, Armenia 
still needs the kind of assistance that a great Nation like the United 
States can provide. In the immediate years after independence, as 
Armenia coped with the effects of blockades and the destruction wrought 
by a devastating earthquake, there was a crying need for direct 
humanitarian assistance. In the years since, the thrust of assistance 
has shifted to development aid.
  In order to help Armenia achieve self-sufficiency, the United States 
must continue to provide developmental and humanitarian assistance. We 
must also use our influence to bring about regional integration and 
confidence-building measures that will help Armenia and its neighbors 
achieve stability and become full-fledged members of the emerging 
global economy.
  We must also do more to resolve the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, 
recognizing the legitimate security and self-determination needs of the 
Karabagh people. This will create the kind of stability that lends 
itself to economic development.
  Madam Speaker, I just wanted to say lastly this evening that I am 
encouraged by the support that the administration has demonstrated in 
helping Armenia's accession to the WTO. I will keep the pressure on the 
administration to help in the other areas through direct assistance and 
in fostering regional stability. That will make this anticipated 
accession to the WTO meaningful in the lives of the people of Armenia.

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