. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/56 
15 December 2005 
 (05-5999) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
ARMENIA 
 
Statement Circulated by HE Mr Karen Chshmaritian
 
Minister of Trade and Economic Development  
   I am honoured to address the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and present our views and thoughts on the work to be done 
here at Hong Kong, China. 
  Let me begin by thanking the Director-General, Chair of General Council, the Secretariat, the 
Chairs in all the negotiating grou ps, and all Members for their efforts in advancing the preparatory 
work in Geneva and concluding it with the Draft Ministerial Text.  I would also like to thank the 
authorities of Hong Kong, China, for hosting this im portant gathering and prov iding it with excellent 
facilities. 
  I would like also to congratulate the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Tonga on the successful 
completion of negotiations on accession to the WTO.  
 So, after the lengthy and intensive work we ar e now here to make a step forward trying to 
fulfil the important and ambitious negotiating mandate that was given to the WTO at Doha. 
  I would like to briefly concentrate on issues,  with respect to which we have specific 
expectations that can be met under the relevant pr ovisions of the Doha Deve lopment Agenda and the 
July Package. 
 
 Our concerns are about Armenia being a la nd-locked country with a small economy in 
transition that has acceded to the WTO just three y ears ago and is now faced with the challenge of 
proposals on further liberalization commitments.  
 The Republic of Armenia has undertaken exte nsive and far-reaching liberalization beginning 
from 1995.  We have no export subsidies, quotas, licen ces and other restrictive measures.  The applied 
tariff average is very low (2.9 per cent), and the ta riff binding coverage is 100 per cent.  As to the 
service regime, it is also very liberal.  Armenia h as entered commitments in almost all sectors and a 
large number of sub-sectors.  As a result, we ha d brought our acting legislation in full compliance 
with the WTO rules before our accession and now are keeping only implementation commitments. 
  I would also like to express our concerns in relation to land-locked countries situation.  These 
countries are dealing with considerable obstacles, specifi cally:  the lack of territo rial access to the sea;  
the dependence on transit services and policies of tr ansit neighbours;  very high transportation and 
transit costs.  In case of Armenia, it is also ongoing economic blockade from its two neighbours. 
 
 At the same time, Armenia has one of the most  liberal trade regimes in the world, which we 
consider as one of the main elements of our open-door economic policy, as well as necessary WT/MIN(05)/ST/56 
Page 2  
 
 condition for country's ongoing dynamic economic grow th.  In this regard we do expect from our 
partners the similar orientation of liberalization a nd further elimination of existing trade barriers. 
  Taking into account the aforementioned we , call for the WTO Members support Armenia's 
position in the current process.  We consider that  the Member countries, whose tariffs are bound at 
very low rates, should remain exempt from any ki nd of further reductions in the medium-term, in 
view of the still high tariff levels of other Member s, as well as international market distortions caused 
by export subsidies and other unreasonable domestic support measures.   We do appreciate understanding shown by Memb er States during revision of the draft 
declaration in Geneva and inclusion of separate paragraph for recently acceding countries in transition 
who have undertaken extensive market access commit ments at the time of accession.  At the same 
time I would like to insist on clarification of the wording in the paragraph 52 of the draft declaration.   In conclusion, I would like to say a few word s on how we see this Conference.  The WTO, 
since its establishment, transformed the global tr ading system from a power-based one to that based 
on rules.  Here, we must make the right decisions with a view to maintaining the effective functioning 
of the WTO.  The good, efficient rule-based system  no doubt is beneficial to all.  We wish all 
Members to realize the balance in terms of the bene fits and commitments, and to be able to use the 
WTO as an instrument to achieve sustainable economi c development.  Armenia's strong interest is to 
ensure that the concerns of recently acceded Members, land-locked economies and countries in 
transition are considered on an equal footing with all others. 
  I do hope that progress can be achieved and we will be able to have tangible results at the end 
of the Conference.  
 
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