U.S. AMBASSADOR NOMINEE TO IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY RECORD IN ARMENIA
news.am
July 14 2011
Armenia
WASHINGTON. – The Obama Administration has strengthened U.S. relations
with Armenia, said U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee John Heffern
in his testimony during the hearings in the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations
“We have expanded development assistance to Armenia in several areas,
especially in governance, economic growth, and market competiveness,
and maintained overall funding levels despite budget cuts in Europe
and Eurasia,” Heffern noted. “If confirmed, I would like to work on
expanding the U.S.-Armenia trade relationship, building on the already
strong connections between Americans and Armenians, to foster more
trade and investment between our countries.”
John Heffern stressed that on the political front, the U.S. has
encouraged Armenia to improve its human rights and democracy record.
“We have seen some positive developments this year, with the government
releasing those still detained from the protests after the Armenian
elections in 2008,” he added.
According to the Ambassador nominee, the forthcoming national elections
in 2012 and 2013 in Armenia “are opportunities for the government of
Armenia to demonstrate its commitment to democracy.”
In addition, through the OSCE Minsk Group, the U.S. supports Armenia
and Azerbaijan as they work toward a peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Heffern.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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