YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS:  It's time for the White House to get serious about the U.S.-Armenia commercial partnership, and put into practice President Obama's pledge to foster Armenia's growth and development through expanded trade,  the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Aram Hamparian told Armenpress on the eve of the U.S.-Armenia economic talks in Washington, DC.

"The failure of the U.S. government over the past two decades to heed the call of the Armenian American community and show leadership in either ending Turkey's blockade or broadening the U.S. -Armenia economic relationship has led, sadly, to the situation we see today, in which Armenia lacks sufficient strategic options in terms of its regional relations," said Aram Hamparian.

The U.S.-Armenia Economic Task Force meeting is set to address a broad range of issues impacting this bilateral relationship, with a special focus on growing the trade and investment levels between these two nations.  This October ANCA is looking to the U.S. leadership of this bilateral platform to build on more than a decade of largely aid-related discussions by bringing to the table a set of concrete deliverables - increased trade, new investments, and good jobs that will foster hope and opportunity in both nations.

The growth of economic ties between USA and Armenia will help create jobs, reinforce the enduring friendship between the American and Armenian peoples, offset the crushing impact of dual Turkish-Azerbaijani blockades, and - very significantly - provide Armenia with strategic options in terms of its economic and security relations with regional powers.

The ANCA has long pressed for a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, a Double Tax Treaty, and a range of other accords in its relations with the Obama Administration and also the U.S. Congress.