MATTHEW BRYZA ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO DEEPENING OF DEMOCRACY IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 09 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Issues concerning
Armenian-American relations were discussed at RA NA Speaker Artur
Baghdasarian’s March 8 meeting with Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. Touching
upon the parliament’s work, Artur Baghdasarian mentioned that
after the adoption of the constitutional amendments 70 new laws and
amendments to laws are envisaged mainly in three directions – local
self-government and territorial government, court and legal systems
and Electoral Code. NA Speaker expressed gratitude to the U.S. for
the assistance rendered to Armenia attaching importance that economic
assistance is accompanied by assistance to democratic reforms. Matthew
Bryza also attached importance to deepening of democracy in Armenia
mentioning that conflicts settlement, energy security and economic
development are within this framework. A special importance was
attached to fighting corruption as ensuring of a possibility of
stable investments. Touching upon energy problems, Matthew Bryza
attached importance to development of alternative possibilities in
the respect of energy security. As Noyan Tapan was informed by NA
Public Relations Department, both of the sides attached importance
to the implementation of the Millennium Challenge program, publicity
in the course of this program’s implementation – ensuring of public
control by means of NGOs. In connection with the Nagorno Karabakh
problem Artur Baghdasarian said that the year 2006 hasn’t exhausted the
possibilities of problem’s peaceful settlement yet and there are still
opportunities of success in the negotiations process. M.Bryza also
attached importance to the problem’s settlement for the development
of the region. Within this framework they also attached importance to
normalization of relations with the neighbors to which the U.S. can
provide assistance. They also attached importance to possibilities
of development of the EU New Neighborhood program and Euroatlantic
cooperation. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans was also present
at the meeting.