US OFFICIAL HAILS ARMENIAN, TURKISH EFFORTS TO BUILD TIES

Mediamax
Oct 17 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 17 October: US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried
stated in Yerevan today that "we have never been as close as today
to constructive developments in Armenian-Turkish relations".

Mediamax reports that, speaking at a briefing in Yerevan today, the
US diplomat welcomed the decision of the Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, who invited his Turkish counterpart to Yerevan in early
September, and the consent of the latter to visit the capital city
of Armenia.

US Assistant Secretary of State expressed hope for normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations, which, according to him, will also
contribute to the settlement of Karabakh conflict.

Daniel Fried arrived in Yerevan this morning and held meetings with
the President and the Prime Minister of Armenia, the leaders of
oppositional Armenian National Congress. Tomorrow, he will leave
Yerevan for Tbilisi.