SERZH SARKISIAN ENDS USA VISIT
ARMENPRESS
Oct 24, 2007
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS: The government press office in
Yerevan said on October 23 morning prime minister Serzh Sarkisian
met with U.S. deputy secretary of state Ruben Geoffrey in Washington
for a discussion of the current and future American-Armenian economic
cooperation.
The press office said they spoke at length on the activity of the
US-Armenian economic task force and on some issues on improving
Armenian investment environment. The US diplomat was quoted as saying
that the government in Washington was happy to see that American aid
has helped Armenia to achieve tangible results in many areas.
Following this meeting Serzh Sarkisian and Ruben Geoffrey participated
in the US-Armenian economic task force’s meeting. Both men addressed
the meeting.
Sarkisian, particularly, said the authorities in Yerevan attach big
importance to developing the country’s rural areas.
After the meeting Armenian finance and economy minister Vartan
Khachatrian and Thomas Adams, a coordinator for Assistance to Eurasia
and Europe, signed an aviation cooperation agreement.
This agreement will enhance US-Armenian cooperation in civil aviation
security, and will clarify the framework for effective communication
during potential crises and allow for assistance in the event of an
aviation accident.
Later Sarkisian gave an interview to Reuters news agency on a wide
scope of issues ranging from Armenia-NATO cooperation and Armenia’s
affairs with Turkey. Taking the opportunity Sarkisian thanked members
of the US House committee on foreign affairs for approving a resolution
recognizing the killings of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman
Turkey as a genocide.
On the last day of his USA visit the Armenian prime minister met
with secretary of state Condoleezza Rice for a discussion of a abroad
range of issues.
Sarkisian, particularly, spoke about democratic and economic reforms
carried out by his government and singled out the May 12 parliamentary
elections saying they have created a good basis for proper conduct
of next year’s presidential election.
They also discussed a set of issues related to the peaceful resolution
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Sarkisian noted that Azerbaijan’s renewed military rhetoric does not
add to the efforts for ending the conflict peacefully.
Sarkisian and Rice discussed then a set of issues pertaining to
regional developments, security and energy safety.
On the second half of the day Sarkisian met with the leadership of
the Armenian Assembly of America.
The visit ended by a reception organized at the Armenian embassy in
Washington in honor of the Armenian prime minister.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
