American ambassador upbeat on Armenian-U.S. cooperation

Interfax ^ | 7/23/2004

[yonif]

Yerevan. (Interfax) - U.S. ambassador to Armenia John Ordway has expressed optimism over the future of his country's cooperation with Armenia.

The quick pace at which relations are developing is the result of the situation in Armenia and the region as a whole, as well as international processes, Ordway told a news conference in Yerevan on Thursday.

The United States plans to continue working with the Armenian authorities to help them carry out democratic reforms and strengthen the country's economy, he said.

The construction in Armenia of the largest U.S. embassy in the world has proved that Washington views its relations with Yerevan as stable and long-term, Ordway said.

The U.S. will continue its assistance to the Armenian armed forces, the ambassador said, adding that Armenia is on the road towards participation in the peacekeeping operation in Iraq.

Commenting on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ordway said the time has come for the conflict to be resolved. Resuming hostilities would have a devastating impact on Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the entire region, he said. The ambassador expressed hopes that the conflict will be settled within the next few years.

[yonif]

I am right now in Armenia, as I have been during the whole summer, and have been to the new embassy site numerous times. Very big.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

When in Yerevan during December of 1997, I went to
visit our American Embassy.
I could not get in the embassy because an American
had to fill out a form and until the ambassador signed
the form you were persona non grata.
When I arrived back in the States, I wrote to all of
my government masters and did not even get a form letter
response.