The USA wants to give Armenia tools to make sovereign decisions. ambassador

Armenia does a good job of balancing relations with all of its neighbors, including Russia, Iran, the United States, and the European Union. This was stated by the Ambassador of the United States to Armenia, Richard Mills, answering the question of “Azatutyun” radio station about the impact of the tension in the Russian-American relations on the relations of the United States with Armenia.

“Armenia is doing a good job balancing relations with all its neighbors, including Russia, Iran, the United States and the European Union. As soon as I came to Armenia, my position was clear: the USA never considered its relations with Armenia as a game with a “zero” result, that is, our relations should be stronger and deeper, but Armenia’s relations with other countries should deteriorate. That was never the goal of the US government, and I don’t think it is the goal of the Armenian government,” he said, adding that the US wants to make sure that Armenia can make its own sovereign decisions about which chooses the path, chooses the economic and political model.

“We want to give Armenia the tools to continue to make sovereign decisions and be sure that Armenia will not be pressured by others to follow a path that Armenia does not want to go down. I think we have a good example in terms of Armenia’s ability to balance its interests and work with the United States. It was Armenia’s participation in NATO’s “Honest Partner” exercises held in Georgia, which took place at the beginning of this August. Armenia should be proud that CSTO was the only member to participate in these exercises and made a very important contribution by providing the medical service that served the participants. to all countries. It helped the armed forces of Armenia, those military exercises and ensuring security in Europe,” Depan said.

According to him, there is extensive cooperation between Armenia and the USA in the military field as well. This March, with the support of the American side, renovation works began at the “Zar” training center of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia.

“With our help, it is being repaired and where the peacekeeping brigade of Armenia will hold its exercises. The Armenian Peacekeeping Brigade and its involvement in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Lebanon, is a true measure of Armenia’s growing importance in international diplomacy and Armenia’s contribution to international security. Our military cooperation is broader than the work around that training center or our work with the Armenian peacekeeping brigade. We are focused on a broad range of cooperation with the Armed Forces of Armenia,” adding that they cover three areas.

“The first is our funding program in the military twist. Since 2002, when our military cooperation really deepened, we have allocated $49 million to purchase equipment for the Armenian armed forces, from personal protective equipment to radio communication equipment and medical equipment. We have an international military education program, and since 2002 we have allocated $7.5 million to provide training for 200 Armenian officers, non-commissioned officers and civilian employees of the Department of Defense at US military institutes, academies, from the National War College to the General Staff College. And finally, the third component of cooperation is the humanitarian assistance program. Especially through the Kansas National Guard, our humanitarian aid military units come to Armenia and work to repair orphanages, schools, and improve the water supply of settlements. Since 2002, we have allocated 5 million dollars to these programs,” he concluded.