Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, who is on an official visit to the United States, held a meeting with his American counterpart, Antony Blinken, as well as with Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.
Mirzoyan congratulated his counterpart on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the United States and expressed satisfaction with the current level of political dialogue between the two countries.
It was emphasized that in previous years, the parties have established a strong partnership based on shared values of democracy, protection of human rights, and the rule of law.
Mirzoyan deemed important the support provided by the United States to Armenia for the purpose of strengthening democracy, sustainable development, and the fight against corruption.
Blinken, for his part, highly assessed the democratic reforms being implemented in Armenia and stressed the continued support of the American side for that process.
Both sides emphasized the importance of resuming joint work within the framework of the Armenian-American strategic dialogue.
Prospects for the development of cooperation in areas of mutual interest were discussed. Mirzoyan deemed important the deepening of trade and economic ties with the United States and emphasized that there are notable opportunities for expanding Armenian-American interaction in high and information technologies, energy, banking, civil aviation, green economy, and other fields.
Mirzoyan highly assessed the principled position of the United States regarding the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, deeming important this year’s statement by United States President Joe Biden on the anniversary of the Genocide, which reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the principles of protection of human rights and humanity.
The Armenian side presented the situation created in the South Caucasus region and Armenia’s position regarding the processes aimed at establishing peace and stability in the region.
The interlocutors exchanged views on starting negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on a comprehensive peace treaty.
Mirzoyan emphasized the importance of the United States’ mediation efforts regarding the peaceful settlement of the Artsakh conflict, as a co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group. He brought to the attention of his American counterpart the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, deemed important the necessity of the repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war, hostages, and other detained persons, and the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories that have come under Azerbaijani control.
During the meeting, reference was made to the progress of the implementation of the agreements regarding the formation of the commission on border demarcation and border security.
Mirzoyan also presented to the interlocutor the developments in the process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey.
Blinken noted that the United States fully supports the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey and deems important the constructive efforts invested by Armenia in that process.
At the end of the meeting, Mirzoyan and Blinken signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Armenia and the United States “On Cooperation in the Field of Civil Nuclear Energy,” which will allow strengthening cooperation between the parties in the field of peaceful and safe use of nuclear energy, and expanding the opportunities for Armenian nuclear energy specialists to become acquainted with the latest technological innovations in the field.
During the meeting with Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States Department of State, reference was made to the high momentum of development of relations between the two countries, and it was noted that since 2019, cooperation has risen to a new level of strategic dialogue.
The parties expressed readiness to further strengthen the effective interaction established in various fields, based on the shared value system of democracy, protection of human rights, the rule of law, and the fight against corruption.
Mirzoyan and Nuland exchanged views on issues of regional security and stability. The progress of the implementation of the agreements reached between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Sochi and Brussels was discussed. Reference was made to the situation created in Artsakh, as well as to the process of starting negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on a comprehensive peace agreement. In this context, Mirzoyan specifically referred to the importance of resuming the work of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship.
Mirzoyan presented the latest developments regarding the process of normalizing Armenia-Turkey relations.
