Category: 2017

DAMASCUS, Syria (Public Radio of Armenia) – An open screening of the Armenian Genocide film “The Promise” was held at Al-Kindi Cinema in Damascus. Attending the event were Armenia’s Ambassador to Syria Arsahak Poladyan, Chairperson of the Syria-Armenia Friendship Group in the Syrian Parliament Nora Arissian, Syrian Cinema workers, religious leaders, journalists, and representatives of the Armenian community.

Ambassador Poladyan briefed the audience on the Armenian Genocide and referred to the policy of hatred towards Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. He drew attention to present-day Turkey’s anti-Armenian stance and its policy of denial, noting that the Armenian Genocide recognition has entered a new stage despite Turkish provocations.

The Ambassador noted that the Armenian Genocide Centennial was a message to the civilized world and attached special importance to the liturgy in Vatican and the Pope’s visit to Armenia.

Poladyan said any dialogue with Turkish authorities on the Armenian Genocide is impossible unless Turkey stops attempts to deny the facts, distort the reality and turn it upside down.

The screening of the film was followed by a discussion.

WASHINGTON –  Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) has once again called on the U.S. Department of Treasury to begin negotiations with Armenia on a modern Double Tax Treaty, a longstanding Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) public policy priority that would promote job creation and expand bilateral trade between the two countries.

“We value Congresswoman Chu’s continued leadership in support of a modern U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty and look forward to continuing our work with her and her Congressional colleagues in removing artificial barriers hindering the expansion of bilateral trade and investment – in IT, tourism, agriculture, and other growth sectors,” stated ANCA Government Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian.  “To capitalize on the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) signed in 2015 and the recent wave of new U.S. investments, this treaty needs to be put in place as soon as possible.”

In her letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Rep. Chu noted that “our only existing agreement with Armenia governing tax issues is the 1973 treaty we signed with the now extinct Soviet Union.  This outdated accord – negotiated between hostile powers – is clearly insufficient to meet the modern-day requirements of our bilateral relationship.”  Rep. Chu had issued a similar call in February, 2016, to former Treasury Secretary Lew following meetings with ANCA leaders during an advocacy “fly-in.”

Congresswoman Judy Chu represents the 27th Congressional District, which includes Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley of southern California. She has been a staunch supporter of the Armenian American community since she was elected in 2009 and has co-authored the annual Armenian Genocide resolutions as well as a number of other pieces of ANCA-backed federal legislation.

A U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty would establish a clear legal framework for investors and individuals that have business activities in both jurisdictions, preventing double taxation and facilitating the expansion of economic relations. It would also help reinforce the friendship of the American and Armenian peoples, anchoring Armenia to the West, and providing Yerevan with greater strategic options and independence in dealing with regional powers.

While investors have found ways to adjust to the inadequacies of the outdated 1973 accord, which is recognized by the U.S. but not Armenia, the existing system of foreign tax credits and deductions is not consistent with any accepted tax or accounting system.  The U.S. has Double Tax Treaties with many small countries, including Estonia, Jamaica, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, and Slovenia. Armenia has Double Tax Treaties with many advanced countries, including Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

The latest ANCA fact sheet about the benefits of an updated U.S.-Armenia Double Tax treaty.

A two-page ANCA fact sheet on a U.S-Armenia Double Tax Treaty can be found at this link: http://anca.org/assets/pdf/ANCA_Double_Tax_Treaty.pdf

BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN

The United States Embassy in Yerevan on Wednesday organized a business conference focused on Armenia’s agriculture sector.

“The goal was to connect Armenian companies involved in the sector with the expertise, products, and technology of well-known U.S. companies Valmont and Monsanto,” said a press announcement from the U.S. Embassy, which also stated that the U.S. companies “sent representatives to the conference to present their products and services and to learn about business opportunities in Armenia. “

Monsanto, the agriculture giant, has become synonymous with GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, and genetically engineered seeds, which alter the natural make-up of seeds to make crops resistant to pesticides and herbicides. Of course, Monsanto also produces the pesticides to which its genetically engineered seeds are immune and encourages—forces—farmers to use its products.

Coincidentally, on the same day that the U.S. Embassy was parading Monsanto representatives in Armenia, The New York Times published a story about how herbicides, some produced by Monsanto, have damaged crops in 25 states—or four-percent of all soybean output in the U.S.—due to unintended wind drifts onto crops that do not use GMOs.

The prospects of companies like Monsanto gaining a footprint in Armenia should raise red flags for farmers in Armenia and the entire agro sector since the eventual cooperation or “investment opportunities” will surely hinge on Armenian farmers being forced to use GMOs, whose long-term health effects on livestock and humans are still being studied.

At face-value, the introduction of GMOs could be deemed beneficial because they make the crops last longer. However, as is the case here in the U.S., the small farms that do not ascribe to the GMO-use model are shortchanged. Instead, Armenia’s government should look at increasing fair competition within the agriculture sector to both diversify production and ensure productivity for its farmers.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan’s plan to improve the country’s economy is greatly dependent on investment into the various sectors. These investments, however, must benefit their respective sectors to ensure growth and productivity and not mere cash infusions with short-term benefits or for multinational corporations to introduce their dubious products in a new market.

The mining industry is a great example of how foreign investment not only does not trickle down to the lay citizen but also hinders their health, life and livelihood.

We all want the United States to invest in Armenia and become a conduit for better economic stability in the country. But, companies like Monsanto, whose notorious bullying tactics to force farmers to conform to is corporate aim to monopolize the agriculture sector will hinder the growth of the agriculture industry in Armenia and will have a far reaching impact on the future of the country’s productivity and resources.

Let’s encourage investment in Armenia in a manner that will benefit each and every Armenian citizen and not the select few who make financial inroads at the expense of the populations welfare and well-being.