OSCE MINSK GROUP U.S. CO-CHAIR ARRIVED IN ARMENIA

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| 15:37:36 | 18-10-2005 | Politics |

Daniel Fried, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs, visited Armenia on October 18 as part of regional
travel that included stops in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Joining
Assistant Secretary Fried’s delegation was U.S. Special Negotiator
for Nagorno-Karabakh and Eurasian Conflicts, Ambassador Steven Mann.

During these meetings, Ambassador Fried and Ambassador Mann discussed
a number of issues, including U.S.-Armenian relations, democratic
reforms in Armenia, U.S.-Armenian defense cooperation, U.S. Government
Assistance programs in Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans hosted special roundtable
meetings on the topics of “Constitutional Reform and Armenia’s
Political Outlook” and “Preparing Civil Society for a Post-conflict
reality.” Commenting on the visit, Ambassador Evans said, “The
Assistant Secretary’s visit reinforces the high-level of interest that
the U.S. Government has in helping build peace and prosperity in the
South Caucasus. The visit comes at an opportune moment as Armenia
prepares for an historic referendum on its constitution and begins
planning now for free and fair elections in 2007 and 2008.”

This trip was Ambassador Fried’s first visit to Armenia since his
appointment as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs in May 2005.