On May 5, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian who was in Washington on a working visit met with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

State Secretary Clinton welcomed Foreign Minister of Armenia and stated that the USA is interested in strengthening and development of comprehensive relations with Armenia and  President Obama’s administration is resolute to expand cooperation between the two countries.

Minister Nalbandian thanked for the invitation to visit Washington and emphasized that Armenia attaches importance to further strengthening its relations with the United States, will pursue development and deepening of friendly partnership and expansion of cooperation with the USA.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and America discussed wide range of issues regarding different areas of bilateral cooperation, possibilities of development and expansion of economic partnership, touched upon the session of the Armenian-American intergovernmental commission to be held in May in Yerevan, discussed a number of regional and international issues.
The two discussed the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. State Secretary Hilary Clinton classed as historic the April 22 Statement of Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Turkey. She reaffirmed the position of the United States to continue providing complete assistance to normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

The latest developments in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) peace process were also discussed at the meeting. They touched upon the forthcoming meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Secretary Clinton emphasized the necessity of peaceful resolution of the Artsakh issue and said that as a country Co-Chairing in the OSCE Minsk Group the United States will continue its full support to reaching of an agreement between the conflict sides and to problem’s solution,  which by her definition will create new opportunities for development, as well as strengthening of stability and security in the South Caucasus region.

Minister Nalbandian presented to State Secretary Clinton the process of reforms implemented in Armenia and the steps undertaken towards that direction.
Edward Nalbandian invited Hilary Clinton to visit Armenia.

 The same day the Foreign Minister of Armenia met with General James Jones, the US President’s National Security Advisor at the White House. Armenian Foreign Minister and US President Advisor discussed different issues of the Armenian-American cooperation, establishment of regional security. General Jones highly assessed the participation of Armenia in peacekeeping actions and in that context its important contribution in the issue of providing international security. They had a detailed talk on the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and possibilities of settlement of the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) issue. General Jones expressed support towards the steps undertaken by the leadership of Armenia aimed at the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. The two also discussed the ways to strengthen the Armenian-American partnership.

During the meeting with Howard Berman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian presented the main directions and priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy. The two touched upon issues concerning stability and security in the South Caucasus region.

On May 4, Foreign Minister of Armenia visited the US Congress where he met with Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on the Armenian issues Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk and members of the group Congressmen Anna Eshoo, Steve Rothman and Scott Garett.

The Armenian Foreign Minister thanked the Congressmen for their pro-Armenian activity of many years and highly appreciated the activities of Congressional Caucus on the Armenian issues and the role of the group members in enhancement of the Armenian-American relations.

At the request of Congressmen Minister Nalbandian presented recent development in the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and steps to be undertaken towards the establishment of normal relations between the two neighbouring countries. In this context Congressmen expressed support to the steps undertaken by the leadership of Armenia to normalization of relations with Turkey.

At the meeting they touched upon the negotiation process on Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) issue and its perspectives.
Edward Nalbandian also had a meeting with Daniel Fried, US Assistant Secretary of State during which the ways of development of Armenian-American relations were discussed.

In the course of the meeting with Rodney Bent, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Millenium Challenge Corporation Edward Nalbandian discussed issues related to continuation of programs implemented by Corporation in Armenia.

In Washington in Armenian Embassy Edward Nalbandain had a working consultations with diplomats of the Armenian Embassy to the USA and the Armenian Permanent Representation at the UN.

During the consultations main issues of the Armenian Foreign policy were discussed and the appropriate instructions were given.
In the capital of the USA the Armenian Foreign Minister also had a meeting with representatives of the American Armenian community.

On May 5, concluding his visit to Washington Edward Nalbandian left for Prague where he will participate in the Eastern Partnership Summit as a member of the delegation led by the RA President.