Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Lisa Kalustian, Chief Deputy Director
300 South Spring Street, Suite 16701
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213)897-0322
FAX (213)897-0319
Lisa.kalustian@gov.ca.gov

To the Members of the California State Senate:
I am returning Senate Bill 515 without my signature.
California is fortunate to be home to one of the largest populations
of Armenians outside the Republic of Armenia, and the
Armenian-American community contributes much to our state and
nation. The creation of an Armenia trade office was prudent in 2002
when the Legislature instituted the office.
Since then, the Legislature has closed all other trade offices
throughout the world and last year passed legislation mandating the
creation of a state international trade strategy. The Business,
Transportation, and Housing Agency is required to complete an
International Trade and Investment strategy to recommend priorities
for state activities by February 1, 2008. Also, the state is
prohibited from establishing any new foreign office until the
Legislature receives a strategy to guide the operation and activities
of the office and provides statutory authority for implementing the
strategy. The State’s involvement in foreign trade offices should be
determined by the process set forth by the Legislature last year. This
bill is premature before that process is completed.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger