US CONGRESS MIGHT REMOVE SANCTIONS AGAINST AZERBAIJAN
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
05.06.2009 12:27 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, a senior
member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Robert
Wexler and Co-Chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, member
of the House of Representatives Bill Shuster introduced legislation
that would repeal Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions on Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani embassy in Washington told APA’s US bureau about it. The
congressmen believe that Azerbaijan, which is a strategic security
and energy partner of the United States, has long met its obligations
to comply with freedom of emigration requirements and that Congress
should remove Jackson-Vanik requirements for Azerbaijan.
According to the 1974 Trade Act of the United States, the Jackson-Vanik
amendment denied most favored nation to certain countries with
non-market economies that restricted emigration rights.
"I strongly support repealing Jackson-Vanik for Azerbaijan, one of
America’s most important strategic allies in the Caucasus region,
which has met all obligations to comply with freedom of emigration
requirements and continues to ensure that these commitments are
fulfilled," Congressman Wexler said. "Passage of this legislation
would send a strong signal to Azerbaijan about American intention to
enhance relations and cooperation in a number of key areas, including
energy security, counter-terrorism cooperation and trade," APA cited
Wexler as saying.