ARMENIAN POLITICIANS HAVE GREAT EXPECTATIONS FROM US ELECTIONS
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
05.11.2008 14:51

With Barack Obama’s election as US President the foreign policy of the
US, including that towards Armenia, will be continuous, US Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch
said during today’s reception. "There are more similarities than
differences between approaches of the Democrats and the Republicans
with regard to the foreign policy of the United States. Both Democrats
and Republicans stably support the democratic development of Armenia
and the economic reforms.

Representatives of both forces support the Karabakh conflict settlement
within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Both Republicans
and Democrats back the reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey,
the opening of the border, establishment of diplomatic relations,"
Marie Yovanovitch said.

Asked about the change in US policy regarding the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, the Ambassador said we should wait and see what
the new President and his team will do.

The president elect will assume office in January 2009. Marie
Yovanovitch said the elections were historic for the US. She noted
that the contradiction of the whites and the black can be considered
overcome.

"This means that irrespective of the fact whether the person was born
and lived in the US or is a child of migrant parents can become US
President," she noted.

"We are satisfied with the Armenian-American relations, which are
currently on a high institutional level. We hope that we will work
together with the new Administration to strengthen and develop those
relations," Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan said. In
his words, the United States plays an important role in providing
technical assistance to Armenia. The US assistance to Armenia currently
measures over $1 billion 800 million. Armenia will uphold the relations
with the US on all levels: political dialogue and economic relations.

According to the Deputy Foreign Minister, the election results were a
brilliant victory for Americans, since Obama’s principles and novelties
of domestic policy will have a great influence on the development
of the country and the prosperity of people. The foreign policy
will also be based on new principles: there will be a "new breath,"
which will contribute to ensuring peace and stability in the world,
peaceful settlement of different conflicts and wars.

Head of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction Vahan Hovhannisyan connects
great hopes with the broad outlook of the Democrats. He is assured
that we should make greater efforts to present Armenia and interests
of the Armenians to the new US Administration.

Member of the Prosperous Armenia Party Naira Zohrabyan also has great
expectations from the president elect.

Republican MP Armen Ashotyan is optimistic about the development of
Armenian-American relations.

Representative of the Armenian National Congress David Shahnazaryan
also considers that Obama’s victory will bring about a positive
breakthrough in the region, but he is not sure that the United States
will recognize the Armenian Genocide.