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US AMBASSADOR: ARMENIA-TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT TO FOSTER INCREASED STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN CAUCASUS REGION
May 31, 2013 | 00:15
YEREVAN. - Armenian News-NEWS.am presents an interview with U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern.
Recently, when talking with students at Synopsys Armenia, you expressed
regret regarding the failed Armenian-Turkish protocols.
According to you, what is the prospect for this issue and will the
United States take steps to bring the sides closer?
Rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey will foster increased
stability and prosperity in the entire Caucasus region. It has long
been and remains the position of the United States that normalization
should take place without preconditions.
Another statement which you made about the events of 1915 gave ground
for numerous comments. Can you clarify exactly what kind of pressure
you were talking about?
Congress, in the process of fulfilling its Constitutional duties,
can and should ask tough questions of ambassadorial nominees. In that
sense, there is pressure on nominees to know and understand their
country of assignment and our foreign policy toward that country.
You also spoke about steps directed to make Armenia look to the West.
Don't you think that the best means for that lies with targeted
economic programs?
USG economic development programs play a very important role in
providing options for Armenia to be more integrated with the West.
The U.S. Embassy, including through USAID projects, works to improve
the business climate for foreign direct investment and strengthen
trade options with the EU and U.S. markets. In addition to supporting
Armenia's economic integration with the West, the U.S. facilitates
partnerships between Armenia and U.S. and European institutions to
strengthen links across sectors. The U.S. also supports an extensive
number of exchange programs that offer valuable education and training
for Armenians in the U.S. The aim of this support is to offer Armenians
a Western perspective and experience that will foster economic growth
over the long term.
In addition to our programs to support Armenia, we are constantly in
a discussion with the Armenian government about investment issues.
American companies invest in countries that have predictable and
transparent economies. We can help and are helping the Armenian
government on this issue, but we count on the Armenian government to
take the lead to create a healthy business environment.
Could you please describe in detail the investment programs of the
United States to develop tourism in Armenia?
The USAID Enterprise Development and Market Competitiveness (EDMC)
Project is currently providing professional development opportunities
for front-line staff, such as guides, and for middle-level managers
to enhance their knowledge of international tourism standards and
practices. To further contribute to improved education and workforce
skills in the field, EDMC is also working with other key stakeholders,
including the American University of Armenia, to train tourism
operators, and has sponsored a new best practice-focused hospitality
management course for Armenian industry participants.
To further promote rural tourism, EDMC is conducting a targeted
assessment of the Syunik region to develop an integrated menu of new
tourism products, enhance professional development opportunities, and
facilitate design/dissemination of advanced promotional materials,
including a detailed rural travel guide. To contribute to an
improved online profile for Armenia on the World Wide Web, EDMC is
developing a new content development and sustainability plan for
the national tourism portal, which will function as a one-stop-shop
for international tourists interested in Armenia. This will not only
significantly enhance the quality and ready availability of information
about traveling and staying in Armenia, but will also enhance the
country's profile as a ready tourism destination and facilitate the
outreach efforts of hospitality service providers across the country.
Finally, it's worth mentioning a word about the Black Sea Silk Road
Corridor (BSSRC) project, a two-year initiative that fosters tourism
development, cross-border cooperation and economic development in 173
communities across four countries of the Black Sea Silk Road Corridor -
Armenia, Georgia, Greece and Turkey.
How would you assess the recent Municipal elections in Armenia? Do
you agree that there were huge number of violations? Do you think
there were disadvantages compared with the Presidential elections?
The election was an improvement over the 2009 municipal election.
However, even with those improvements, we believe that local
observation groups have raised legitimate concerns about electoral
violations and the lack of level playing field. It is important for
law enforcement to proactively, but deliberately investigate and
prosecute all credible reports of electoral violations. Prosecutions
of violators, irrespective of party, are an important step in building
people's trust in the democratic process.
Recently the U.S. Ambassador in Azerbaijan spoke about possible change
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairman. Will you confirm this information
and whose candidacies are being considered for this post?
The United States remains fully committed to its role as U.S. co-chair
and to helping the sides find a peaceful, negotiated solution to the NK
conflict. Ambassador Kelly is an experienced diplomat who is serving
as the interim U.S. co-chair until Secretary Kerry, in consultation
with the White House, can nominate a permanent candidate.
The State Department will announce a candidate as soon as possible.
http://news.am/eng/news/155884.html
From: Baghdasarian
May 31, 2013 | 00:15
YEREVAN. - Armenian News-NEWS.am presents an interview with U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern.
Recently, when talking with students at Synopsys Armenia, you expressed
regret regarding the failed Armenian-Turkish protocols.
According to you, what is the prospect for this issue and will the
United States take steps to bring the sides closer?
Rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey will foster increased
stability and prosperity in the entire Caucasus region. It has long
been and remains the position of the United States that normalization
should take place without preconditions.
Another statement which you made about the events of 1915 gave ground
for numerous comments. Can you clarify exactly what kind of pressure
you were talking about?
Congress, in the process of fulfilling its Constitutional duties,
can and should ask tough questions of ambassadorial nominees. In that
sense, there is pressure on nominees to know and understand their
country of assignment and our foreign policy toward that country.
You also spoke about steps directed to make Armenia look to the West.
Don't you think that the best means for that lies with targeted
economic programs?
USG economic development programs play a very important role in
providing options for Armenia to be more integrated with the West.
The U.S. Embassy, including through USAID projects, works to improve
the business climate for foreign direct investment and strengthen
trade options with the EU and U.S. markets. In addition to supporting
Armenia's economic integration with the West, the U.S. facilitates
partnerships between Armenia and U.S. and European institutions to
strengthen links across sectors. The U.S. also supports an extensive
number of exchange programs that offer valuable education and training
for Armenians in the U.S. The aim of this support is to offer Armenians
a Western perspective and experience that will foster economic growth
over the long term.
In addition to our programs to support Armenia, we are constantly in
a discussion with the Armenian government about investment issues.
American companies invest in countries that have predictable and
transparent economies. We can help and are helping the Armenian
government on this issue, but we count on the Armenian government to
take the lead to create a healthy business environment.
Could you please describe in detail the investment programs of the
United States to develop tourism in Armenia?
The USAID Enterprise Development and Market Competitiveness (EDMC)
Project is currently providing professional development opportunities
for front-line staff, such as guides, and for middle-level managers
to enhance their knowledge of international tourism standards and
practices. To further contribute to improved education and workforce
skills in the field, EDMC is also working with other key stakeholders,
including the American University of Armenia, to train tourism
operators, and has sponsored a new best practice-focused hospitality
management course for Armenian industry participants.
To further promote rural tourism, EDMC is conducting a targeted
assessment of the Syunik region to develop an integrated menu of new
tourism products, enhance professional development opportunities, and
facilitate design/dissemination of advanced promotional materials,
including a detailed rural travel guide. To contribute to an
improved online profile for Armenia on the World Wide Web, EDMC is
developing a new content development and sustainability plan for
the national tourism portal, which will function as a one-stop-shop
for international tourists interested in Armenia. This will not only
significantly enhance the quality and ready availability of information
about traveling and staying in Armenia, but will also enhance the
country's profile as a ready tourism destination and facilitate the
outreach efforts of hospitality service providers across the country.
Finally, it's worth mentioning a word about the Black Sea Silk Road
Corridor (BSSRC) project, a two-year initiative that fosters tourism
development, cross-border cooperation and economic development in 173
communities across four countries of the Black Sea Silk Road Corridor -
Armenia, Georgia, Greece and Turkey.
How would you assess the recent Municipal elections in Armenia? Do
you agree that there were huge number of violations? Do you think
there were disadvantages compared with the Presidential elections?
The election was an improvement over the 2009 municipal election.
However, even with those improvements, we believe that local
observation groups have raised legitimate concerns about electoral
violations and the lack of level playing field. It is important for
law enforcement to proactively, but deliberately investigate and
prosecute all credible reports of electoral violations. Prosecutions
of violators, irrespective of party, are an important step in building
people's trust in the democratic process.
Recently the U.S. Ambassador in Azerbaijan spoke about possible change
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairman. Will you confirm this information
and whose candidacies are being considered for this post?
The United States remains fully committed to its role as U.S. co-chair
and to helping the sides find a peaceful, negotiated solution to the NK
conflict. Ambassador Kelly is an experienced diplomat who is serving
as the interim U.S. co-chair until Secretary Kerry, in consultation
with the White House, can nominate a permanent candidate.
The State Department will announce a candidate as soon as possible.
http://news.am/eng/news/155884.html
From: Baghdasarian