U.S. Congress set to debate Russia trade, human rights billNovember 14, 2012 - 09:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A bill that would upgrade U.S. trade relations with Russia while also punishing Russian officials for human rights violations cleared a legislative hurdle on Tuesday, Nov 13, on its way to expected approval in the House of Representatives later this week, according to Reuters. The House Rules Committee approved a plan to combine legislation to establish "permanent normal trade relations" (PNTR) with Russia with a separate human rights measure strongly opposed by Moscow. The full House is expected to vote on Thursday on the plan to merge the bills and vote on Friday on the combined package, a House Republican aide said. Representative Kevin Brady, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee's trade subcommittee, said the trade and human rights package had broad bipartisan support. "We can't miss any opportunity to create jobs and support our exporters," Brady told the rules panel. Congress has to approve PNTR to ensure U.S. companies receive all of the market-opening benefits of Russia's entry in WTO. Doing that requires lawmakers to lift a Cold War-era provision known as the Jackson-Vanik amendment that tied favorable U.S. tariffs on Russian goods to the rights of Jews in the former Soviet Union to emigrate. Many U.S. lawmakers are reluctant to remove the Jackson-Vanik amendment without passing new human rights legislation to keep pressure on Moscow. The new measure is named after Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian anti-corruption lawyer who died in a Russian jail in 2009. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Viva: Armenia's leading technology company introduces a new trademark The updated brand Viva reflects a qualitatively new level of digital services. Turkey restoring 500-year-old Surp Sarkis Armenian Church During the program, Sahak Maşalyan, the Patriarch of Türkiye's Armenians, inspected the historic church and offered prayers. Cumulative deposit on flexible terms: Byblos Bank Armenia's new offer Once the deposit is fixed, it can be topped up at any time, and interest will be accrued quarterly. BSEC Secretary General due in Armenia on July 1 On July 1, the Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) Lazar Comanescu will pay a working visit to Armenia. |