ARMENIA: MINISTER EDWARD NALBANDIAN MET US STATE SECRETARY CONDOLEEZZA RICE AND US HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS
ISRIA
Armenian Foreign Ministry
DC
July 16 2008
On July 14 Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with US State
Secretary Condoleezza Rice.
At the beginning of the meeting Minister Nalbandian stressed Armenia’s
determination to enhance and deepen relations with the US in all
possible areas and pursue development and strengthening of friendly
partnership and expansion of cooperation between the two countries.
Armenian Foreign Minister and US State Secretary noted that the
history and traditions of Armenian – US relations, the wide legal
base and mutual political will provide an opportunity for developing
bilateral ties in different areas.
Minister Nalbandian highly appreciated US Government projects,
aimed at development of different fields of Armenian economy and the
US assistance of about 1.9 milliard US dollars since the Armenian
independence.
The two discussed the recent developments of the Nagorno Karabakh
peace process. In this context it was mentioned that the problem can
be solved only by means of peaceful negotiations, which are being
conducted within the frameworks of the OSCE Minsk Group. They highly
appreciated the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-chairs and stressed
the importance of continuation of talks on the base of the Madrid
proposals of 2007, which creates possibility to register a progress
in the peace process.
Speaking on the perspectives of normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations, Minister Nalbandian reaffirmed Armenia’s readiness to
establish diplomatic relations and opening of Armenian-Turkish border
without any preconditions. Edward Nalbandian also presented the steps
undertaken by Armenia in this direction.
The two also discussed the Senate confirmation process of the US
Ambassador nominee to Armenia. In this context, Minister Nalbandian,
expressed hope, that the candidature of the new Ambassador would soon
be confirmed and her arrival in Armenia would have a positive impact
for further development of bilateral relations.
The ceremony of signing of "Joint Action Plan between the Government
of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the United States of
America on Combating Smuggling of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials"
took place after the meeting,. The document was signed by Minister
Nalbandian and State Secretary Rice.
On the same day, Minister Nalbandian met Assistant to the US
President, Deputy Adviser of the US President on National Security,
Ambassador James Jeffrey. In the course of the meeting the sides
focused on the Armenian-US partnership in the security area, the
process of Armenia-NATO cooperation, as well as issues of regional
security and stability. Minister Nalbandian and Ambassador Jeffrey
exchanged ideas on the Nagorno-Karabagh peace-process, normalisation
of Armenian-Turkish relations and number of issues of mutual interest.
On July 14, in the afternoon Minister Nalbandian was received at
the US Congress, where he met with Chairman of Foreign Relations
Committee of the House of Representatives Howard Berman. Armenian
Foreign Minister highly appreciated the role of the US Congress in
the process of development of Armenian-US relations and years-long
attention by the US Senate and the House of Representatives paid to
the issues related to Armenia.
On the request of Congressman Berman, Minister Nalbandian presented
recent developments in the Nagorno Karabakh peace-process, perspectives
of settlement of Armenian-Turkish relations, as well as Armenia’s
approaches on the regional and international issues. Howard Berman
noted, that his Commission attaches importance to development of
cooperation with Armenia and will continue to make efforts in this
direction.