Armenia hopes to expand cooperation with US – Oskanyan
By Alexander Plakhov

ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 14, 2004 Monday 2:18 PM Eastern Time

WASHINGTON, June 14 — Armenia hopes to expand cooperation with the
United States, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan said.

Speaking at the U.S. Centre for International and Strategic Studies
on Monday, Oskanyan said, “Armenian-U.S. cooperation does not run
counter interaction with Russia.”

“It is natural our partnership with Russia is deeper,” the Armenian
minister said. “Armenia is beginning its cooperation with the U.S.,”
he added.

Commenting on the situation in Iraq, Oskanyan said both sides
strengthened contacts in this field. The minister noted that the U.N.
new resolution had given more possibilities to involve other countries
in post-war reconstruction in Iraq.

In his speech Oskanyan riveted attention to the expansion of relations
with the European Union, relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan,
and the settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Oskanyan
said the settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh depends
on the talks within the OSCE Minsk Group, which includes the U.S.,
Russia and France.

The Armenian minister has arrived in Armenia on a visit. He will
hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Presidential
National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice, the Pentagon high-ranking
officials and congressmen.