PERMANENT TRADE STATUS FOR ARMENIA BACKED.

Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer

GLENDALE - A lobbying effort to get Congress to grant permanent trade status to Armenia in a vote later this month got support Friday from local, state and federal lawmakers.

State Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, and representatives of Gov. Gray Davis and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, joined with Armenian Consul General Valery Mkrtoumian to launch the push, aimed at lifting tariffs put in place in the Soviet era.

Armenia - which was welcomed into the World Trade Organization in February - still has only temporary trade status with the United States and has not been granted Most Favored Nation status - an omission that hinders its ability to do business here, officials said.

``American businesses who consider Armenia a potential emerging economy, with potential for investment, hesitate to deal with Armenia,'' said Armen Janian, honorary chair of the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber helped organize Friday's meeting with lawmakers. The group is beginning a letter-writing campaign to show support for the measure.

``Not only would this measure be a vote of confidence, it would have an actual impact as well - it would be an impetus for business,'' said Scott, who last year spearheaded a bill to create a California trade office in Armenia.

Armenia's information technology and food and beverage industries would be sought after by U.S. consumers, and American businesses could capitalize on demand in Armenian sectors, said Nicholas Hacopian, chairman of the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce.