The United States want to help Armenia strengthen democracy and rule of law, resolve Karabakh conflict and reconcile it with neighboring country, Ambassador nominee Richard Mills said during the hearings at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“Тhe goal of our Armenian policy is simple: a free and prosperous Armenia, at peace with its neighbors. Achieving this goal means helping Armenia strengthen its democracy and rule of law; liberalize its economy, expand trade,and attract diversified foreign investment, resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully through the Minsk Group Process; and to reconcile with its neighbor Turkey through a full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the painful elements of the past,” he said.
He believes Armenia’s decision to join Eurasian Economic Union served to emphasize the need to achieve our goals of decreasing Armenia’s regional isolation and bolstering its economic and security independence. “We have stressed since Armenia’s decision that strengthened economic collaboration with the United States and Europe can complement Armenia’s future membership in the Eurasian Union,” Mills said.
Speaking about Armenia-Turkey relations, Mills said U.S. continue to emphasize the importance of proceeding with final approval of the protocols, “without preconditions or linkage to other issues, and have been clear that responsibility for moving forward lies with the Turkish Government”.
The Administration will continue to press at the highest levels for Turkish ratification of the Protocols, he emphasized.
“Efforts toward Turkish-Armenian reconciliation are especially important at this time, as the United States and the world will stand in solidarity with the Armenian people next year to mark the centenary of one of the 20th century’s worst atrocities, when 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire”.
As to Karabakh conflict, the Administration is committed to a peaceful settlement through the Minsk Group process. "If confirmed, I will coordinate with Ambassador James Warlick, the U.S. Co-Chair of the Minsk Group, on how Embassy Yerevan and I can assist the Administration’s efforts to facilitate follow-up meetings in the months ahead,” the diplomat added.
