DEMOCRACY IN ARMENIA IS THE ISSUE WHICH U.S. OFTEN TOUCHES UPON, DANIEL FRIED SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 16 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “I hope that in
future as well I’ll have possibility to visit Armenia and work with
the Government of Armenia on our general issue which is building of
the future of Armenia,” Daniel Fried, the U.S. Assistant Secretary
of State for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs informed at
the March 16 joint press-conference with Steven Mann, the OSCE Minsk
Group American Co-Chairman.
He attached special attention to development of democratic processes
in Armenia and mentioned that democracy in Armenia is the issue which
the U.S. often touches upon.
Daniel Fried stated that his and Steven Mann’s visit to the region
has three important goals. The first: after the Ramboillet meeting to
discuss the negotiation process on the Karabakh issue settlement in
Baku and Yerevan. The second: to consider the South Caucasus’ future,
taking into account the state when regional problems like the issues
of Nagorno Karabakh, Abkhazia, Osetia, will already be solved and
“the countries of this region will be able to develop their future in
peaceful and safe conditions and will be able to make their choice
freely, without any outer pressures.” The goal of the visit is also
discussing of the energetic issues, “particularly connected with the
events taken place in January, this year.”
As for the one if the U.S. will assist Armenia in the issue of building
a new atomic power station, Daniel Fried mentioned that Europe and
U.S. observe problems of diversification of energic sources. “I know
what a solution those issues will get in general and particularly
relating to Armenia. I’ve heard that there is great interest in atomic
energy in Armenia, and I’ll inform Washington about it,” he stated.