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US seeks to improve relations with Armenia, says envoy
13:09 * 31.05.14
The United States seeks to improve its relations with Armenia further and
increase its influence in the country, Ambassador John Heffern has said in
an interview with VoA Armenian
.
Mr Heffern, who is back to the US these days, is said to be conducting
meetings with representatives of different Armenian communities, as well as
companies which may be interested in investment opportunities in Armenia.
Asked whether he thinks that the peace talks over Nagorno-Karabakh have
reached a phase of stalemate, the diplomat said the remark can be
considered true but added that James Warlick, the US co-chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group (the mission that brokers the peace deal between Armenia and
Azerbaijan), is fully committed to his duties (as instructed by the
Department of State) to spare no effort in brining the sides' positions
closer. Noting that there is a certain progress in the negotiations, Mr
Heffern said that the US co-chair has a clear task to promote more in-depth
process between the sides.
The ambassador added that that after the September 3 statement on Armenia's
intention join the Eurasian Customs Union, President Serzh Sargsyan gave a
very important signal to the United States and Europe that the country
wishes to continue the partnership with the West. As an example, he cited
the transaction of selling the Vorotan Hydropower Plant
to the US company
ContourGlobal.
Asked whether the United States, which is Turkey's ally, will encourage the
country's future president to visit Armenia next year for the April 24
Genocide centennial event, the ambassador said he believes that PM Recep
Tayyip Erdogan's April 23 condolence address
was just step ahead
of that. He said the United States would try to be more useful, adding that
a final decision is to be made by Turkey's top officials (president and
prime minister).
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/05/31/heffern/
From: Baghdasarian
13:09 * 31.05.14
The United States seeks to improve its relations with Armenia further and
increase its influence in the country, Ambassador John Heffern has said in
an interview with VoA Armenian
.
Mr Heffern, who is back to the US these days, is said to be conducting
meetings with representatives of different Armenian communities, as well as
companies which may be interested in investment opportunities in Armenia.
Asked whether he thinks that the peace talks over Nagorno-Karabakh have
reached a phase of stalemate, the diplomat said the remark can be
considered true but added that James Warlick, the US co-chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group (the mission that brokers the peace deal between Armenia and
Azerbaijan), is fully committed to his duties (as instructed by the
Department of State) to spare no effort in brining the sides' positions
closer. Noting that there is a certain progress in the negotiations, Mr
Heffern said that the US co-chair has a clear task to promote more in-depth
process between the sides.
The ambassador added that that after the September 3 statement on Armenia's
intention join the Eurasian Customs Union, President Serzh Sargsyan gave a
very important signal to the United States and Europe that the country
wishes to continue the partnership with the West. As an example, he cited
the transaction of selling the Vorotan Hydropower Plant
to the US company
ContourGlobal.
Asked whether the United States, which is Turkey's ally, will encourage the
country's future president to visit Armenia next year for the April 24
Genocide centennial event, the ambassador said he believes that PM Recep
Tayyip Erdogan's April 23 condolence address
was just step ahead
of that. He said the United States would try to be more useful, adding that
a final decision is to be made by Turkey's top officials (president and
prime minister).
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/05/31/heffern/
From: Baghdasarian