US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN1729

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001729 
 
SIPDIS 
 
COMMERCE FOR CS/GTP SEAN MCALISTER AND DANICA STARKS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: BEXP, BMGT, EAIR, AM 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: 11TH ANNUAL CENTRAL AND 
EASTERN EUROPE/U.S. AIRPORT ISSUES CONFERENCE 
 
REF: USDOC 3828 
 
On September 19, we delivered reftel invitation to Armenian 
Director of Civil Aviation Artyom Movsesyan.  He said that he 
hopes to attend the conference contingent on available 
funding.  Movsesyan informed us that Vano Vardanyan, the 
second invitee mentioned in reftel, no longer works at 
Zvartnots Airport.  He told us that management and safety 
issues at the airport are currently the responsibility of 
Juan Pablo Gechijyan, Executive Director of Armenia 
International Airports (AIA).  AIA is a private company that 
has managed Zvartnots Airport under a 30-year concession 
agreement since 2002.  Per reftel, we contacted Dr. Sean 
McAlister in the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of 
Global Trade Programs via e-mail and suggested that an 
invitation also be extended to Gechijyan.  McAlister agreed 
and on September 27, we met with Gechijyan and passed the 
reftel invitation.  He was extremely interested in the 
conference and said that either he or his representative is 
likely to attend. 
GODFREY