JACKSON-VANIK AMENDMENT TO BE REPEALED ALREADY BY SEPTEMBER

The Jackson/Vanik amendment to the US law on trade with 8 republics of the former Soviet Union should be repealed already by September. US Congress member Kurt Weldon told “Izvestia” Russian newspaper. It should be noted that the amendment provides for limitation of trade with these currently CIS member countries, including Armenia. Sanctions co-sponsored by Congressmen Jackson and Vanik and introduced in 1974 against the Soviet Union due to hampering migration of Jews, spread on the CIS countries after the collapse of the USSR. A year ago president Bush addressed Congress to repeal the amendment, which did not make sense any more. However, there were people in Congress, who linked it with Russian authorities’ ban against US chicken ham import. In Kurt Weldon’s words, today many well-known legislators, for whom it has become a matter of principle, come against the amendment. “Moreover, I try to explain to my congressional counterparts: by demanding repeal of the amendment we protect the interests of American large business as well,” the congressman said.