US embassy cable - 04YEREVAN1179

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001179 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/ACE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EAID, AM 
SUBJECT:  SPRING 2004 DIASPORA ROUNDTABLE FOCUSES ON 
INVESTMENT, PARTNERSHIP WITH USG ASSISTANCE 
 
1. The May 5-7 meetings of the Ambassador's Diaspora 
Roundtable held in Yerevan focused on encouraging 
private investment in Armenia and increasing 
partnership between Diaspora-based groups and the USG 
with ongoing assistance projects.  Thirty-seven 
prominent Armenian-Americans representing the entire 
range of Diasporan organizations attended the event. 
The schedule included:  a briefing with the Assistance 
Coordination Group; panel discussions with locally- 
based Diasporans active in the business sector; visits 
to USG assistance program sites in and around the 
capital; a keynote address by President Kocharian's 
Chief Economic Advisor Vahram Nercissiantz; a workshop 
with key international donor organizations active in 
Armenia including the World Bank and United Nations; 
and a reception including more than 100 USG 
implementing partners and GOAM representatives. 
Diasporans were also matched with USG employees 
managing programs in specific sectors for specialized 
consultations to explore future possibilities for 
public-private partnerships. 
 
2. Most notable among the meeting's conclusions was a 
call by participants for greater transparency and new 
legislation to protect philanthropic efforts by 
Diasporans in Armenia.  The group raised these concerns 
with high-level GOAM representatives and requested 
Embassy support in furthering future dialogue on the 
subject.  The meeting also laid the groundwork for 
initiating or deepening a number of public-private 
partnerships that will complement ongoing USG 
assistance projects in Armenia.  Participants also 
expressed interest in several burgeoning sectors that 
included USG small and medium-sized development 
projects where private investment could strengthen both 
the local economy and Diasporan investment portfolios. 
 
3. The Spring 2004 installment of the Ambassador's 
Diaspora Roundtable was the third time the group had 
met since 2002.  Previous meetings were held in Yerevan 
and in Chicago.  The event was conceived as a mechanism 
for greater understanding regarding USG assistance 
efforts in Armenia between leading Diasporan advocacy 
groups and the USG.  Improved communication with the 
Diaspora has stemmed the spread of potentially damaging 
misinformation regarding USG assistance funding in 
Armenia.  In addition, this dialogue has helped direct 
Diasporan assistance efforts to areas complementary to 
USG policy goals of democratic strengthening, economic 
freedom and regional stability.  Armenian-American 
groups have praised the event as the best source for 
direct dialogue with the USG on assistance-related 
issues and called on post to continue this initiative 
in the future. 
ORDWAY