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Minister of the Foreign Affaires of Armenia Edward Nalbandian receives
US Assistant Secretary Philip Gordon

On June 9, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian received
Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs
who is in Yerevan with a working visit.

In his welcoming remarks Armenian Foreign Minister said that Armenia
attaches importance to the further strengthening of relationship with
the United States and is determined to develop and deepen friendly
partnership with the USA.

Assistant Secretary Gordon mentioned that the American side attaches
importance to the expansion of comprehensive cooperation with Armenia
and the fact that after the appointment as Assistant Secretary his
first foreign visit starts form Armenia is the evidence of that.

Minister Nalbandian and Assistant Secretary Gordon had a detailed
discussion on further development of Armenian-American relations,
attached importance to the activities of Armenian-American
Intergovernmental Commission on Economic issues. They also touched
upon the issues concerning the Millennium Challenge program.

The two discussed the process of reforms carried out in
Armenia. Minister Nalbandian presented the steps undertaken by the
Armenian authorities towards the implementation of democratic reforms.

US Assistant Secretary reaffirmed the full support of the US
Administration for the steps undertaken in the direction of
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Minister Nalbandian and Assistant Secretary exchanged views on the
settlement process of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) issue. In that
context Philip Gordon stressed that as the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair
the USA will continue to actively promote the efforts aimed at the
settlement of the issue.