GEORGIA NOT USA’S FAVORITE IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

ARKA
Feb 19, 2009

YEREVAN, February 19. /ARKA/. The USA does not view Georgia as a
favorite in the South Caucasus, US Acting Vice-Ambassador to Armenia,
Head of the Policy and Economy Department, US Embassy in Armenia,
told ARKA.

He considers it unfair to call Georgia a favorite. Banker pointed
out that the USA had deep relations Georgia, assisted the country
with democratization and doing away with vestiges of the Soviet past.

He also said that Georgia overcame numerous difficulties, and at one
time the USA had strong ties with that country.

However, the USA established close ties with Armenia – an Armenian
community of hundreds of thousands is residing in the USA – and with
Azerbaijan, so any comparisons of this kind are not quite correct,
Banker said.

In any case, he said, the USA will continue its policy in the South
Caucasus.

Banker does not expect any radical changes in approaches of the newly
elected US President Barack Obama and newly appointed US Secretary
of State Hilary Clinton.