U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE AND SPECIAL NEGOTIATOR FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH VISIT ARMENIA

Armenpress
Oct 18 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 18, ARMENPRESS: The US Embassy in Armenia said today
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.

It said joining Assistant Secretary Fried’s delegation was U.S. Special
Negotiator for Nagorno-Karabakh and Eurasian Conflicts, Ambassador
Steven Mann. As part of their visit, they met with representatives
of the Armenian Government, including President Robert Kocharian,
National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian, Minister of Defense
Serzh Sarkisian and Minister of Justice David Harutunian.

In addition, they met with civil society leaders, journalists,
and representatives from the full spectrum of local political
parties. 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. Prior to this position, Ambassador Fried served
as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European
and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council (biographical
notes attached).

The U.S. Government has dedicated over $1.6 billion worth of assistance
to the people of Armenia since its independence.