ARMENIAN FM RECEIVES US AIDE TO SECRETARY OF STATE LORA KENNEDY

ArmenPress
Oct 14 2004

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian today received an aide to US Secretary of State Laura
Kennedy. According to foreign ministry press services, during the
meeting the sides exchanged ideas on bilateral and international
issues of mutual interest.

Speaking on Armenian-American relations, the sides mentioned with
satisfaction that they continue to develop dynamically and with high
predictability

In this regard, the two attached great importance to the economic
element in Armenian-American ties. They discussed US-Armenia Task
Force 9th meeting which was held in Washington recently.

During the meeting reflections were made on regional issues. In
this context, ideas were exchanged on after-war recovery in Iraq and
possible Armenian participation in it.

In the context of regional development, relations with Turkey were
discussed noting the role of USA in this regard. Minister Oskanian
voiced his concern over the continued blockade by Turkey saying that
such policy impedes regional development.

Laura Kennedy serves as a minister-aide on foreign policy issues.
Starting this year, she works as an aide to US State Secretary. In
1992, she was charge d’affaires at US embassy in Armenia. In 2001,
she was US ambassador in Turkmenistan.