On November 18, Edward Nalbandian, Foreign Minister of Armenia, received Bridget Brink, US Deputy Assistant Secretary on European and Eurasian Affairs.

Welcoming the guest, the Foreign Minister commended the high level of Armenia-US friendly partnership, stressing that bilateral relations have experienced a serious progress over the recent years with the exertion of joint efforts, which creates good opportunities for further strengthening and enhancing of the partnership.

Expressing gratitude for the reception, Bridget Brink outlined, that the United States highly appreciates the friendly partnership with Armenia, is interested in their further deepening, and is aimed at exertion of practical steps in that direction.

The sides reflected on the perspectives of the development of Armenian-American economic partnership, exchanged views on the results of the first session of Armenia-US Council on Trade and Investment, held on November 17, in Yerevan.

On that matter, Bridget Brink said, “I am proud that the United States is among the largest foreign direct investors in Armenia and am looking forward to identifying ways to further increase investor confidence following the meetings of the U.S.-Armenia Joint Economic Task Force (USATF) and Armenia-U.S. Council on Trade and Investment (TIFA) meetings in Yerevan this week. This series of high-level meetings will help us build a more beneficial trade partnership.”

Foreign Minister of Armenia and Deputy Assistant Secretary exchanged thoughts on the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, highlighting impermissibility of cease-fire regime violations. The sides underlined that attempts to shift the discussions on the settlement into other frameworks are harmful.

Edward Nalbandian and Bridget Brink thoroughly discussed international and regional issues, ways to fight against terror, ways to conflicts settlement. The US Deputy Assistant Secretary highly appreciated Armenia’s contribution to the global security and participation in peace-keeping operations in other countries.