USA REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 23

On July 14-18 within the framework of Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister
Edward Nalbandian’s visit to Washington the main topic of discussion
with a series of high-ranking officials was Armenia’s progress in the
direction of overcoming the political crisis aroused as a result of
presidential elections on February 19. The American party expressing
their satisfaction in connection with some positive steps of Armenia’s
authorities, at the same time expressed their concern with the arrest
and prosecution of the opposition politicians, with the freedom of
rallies and press joining the international community’s calls to hold
a valid investigation of the events of March 1-2.

According to the report of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, these issues
will be discussed in the session of Millennium Challenge Corporation
Board to be held in September, presided over by Secretary of State
Codoleezza Rice. It was noted that the U.S. officials welcomed
E. Nalbandian’s comprehensive comments on all these important issues.

During the Washington meetings the RA Foreign Affairs Minister’s next
major topic of discussion concerned Armenia’s regional relations. The
American party approved of President Sargsyan’s steps taken recently
on the way to conciliation with Turkey and reaffirmed the U.S. support
of the normalization of the relations between Armenia and Turkey. The
parties also discussed the status of the Minsk Group negotiations
with Azerbaijan on Nagorno Karabakh problem.