US TERMINATED JACKSON-VANIK AMENDMENT ON ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net - The US Senate approved introducing a number of changes into the bill "On US Customs Duties", the constituent of which is the establishment of normal permanent trade relations with Armenia, thus terminating the Jackson-Vanik amendment in regards to Armenia. The Jackson-Vanik amendment functioning since 1974 bans normal trade relations between the US and several states (specifically with the former USSR republics), which practice restrictions of migration rights, especially in respect to the religious minorities. January 2002 President George Bush sent a letter to the Congress with a request to terminate the Jackson-Vanik amendment's application to Russia and eight ex-USSR republics, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Moldavia, Tajikistan, Ukraine. To note, the amendment is not applied to Georgia and Kirghizia since 2000.