AMERICAN SENATOR IMPRESSED BY DEMOCRATIC AND ECONOMIC REFORMS TAKEN PLACE IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 3, NOYAN TAPAN. A significant progress has been fixed
in Armenia since 1998. Chuck Hagel, a US Senator from the state
of Nebraska, a delegation headed by whom arrived in Yerevan the
same morning, stated this at the June 2 press conference. “I am too
impressed by those democratic as well as ecomomic reforms which took
place in Armenia, it is a very good news both for Armenia and whole
world,” the Senator emphasized. He mentioned that he first visited
Armenia in 1998 when President Kocharian was newly elected. At
the same time, Chuck Hagel attached importance to continuation of
the process of the democratic reforms in Armenia, holding just and
open elections. Senator Hagel called a good news the removal of the
Russian military bases from Georgia. As for the presence of the Russian
bases in Armenia, then this issue, according to him, must be solved
at the level of the Governments of Armenia and Russia. According
to the US Senator, where there are serious conflicts like the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, additional military forces may impede the
peaceful settlement. But if the military equipments and troops will be
removed to Armenia, it is an issue to be decided between Armenia and
Russia. The Senator assured that US will continue to do its best in
order that it becomes possible to reach a just and continual solution
of the Karabakh problem between Armenia and Azerbaijan. According to
Chuck Hagel, the USA has numerous interests, partners and friends
in the Caucasian region. According to him, ties with Armenia are
attached importance both by US Congress and Bush’s administration. He
mentioned that the friendship and partnership between Armenia and
the USA comes out of common interests: the two countries has common
interests in issues concerning defence, security problems. The
Senator attached importance, particularly, to Armenia’s presence in
Kosovo and Iraq. The Senator mentioned that before visiting Armenia,
he had been to Turkey, then Azerbaijan, and will visit Georgia, then
the Ukraine after Armenia. Chuck Hagel presented buckles with the US
Senate’s stamp pictured on them to the heads of all those countries
he visited, including the President of Armenia.