On June 9, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian received Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs who is in Yerevan with a working visit.

In his welcoming remarks Armenian Foreign Minister said that Armenia attaches importance to the further strengthening of relationship with the United States and is determined to develop and deepen friendly partnership with the USA.

Assistant Secretary Gordon mentioned that the American side attaches importance to the expansion of comprehensive cooperation with Armenia and the fact that after the appointment as Assistant Secretary his first foreign visit starts form Armenia is the evidence of that.

Minister Nalbandian and Assistant Secretary Gordon had a detailed discussion on further development of Armenian-American relations, attached importance to the activities of Armenian-American Intergovernmental Commission on Economic issues. They also touched upon the issues concerning the Millennium Challenge program.

The two discussed the process of reforms carried out in Armenia. Minister Nalbandian presented the steps undertaken by the Armenian authorities towards the implementation of democratic reforms.

US Assistant Secretary reaffirmed the full support of the US Administration for the steps undertaken in the direction of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Minister Nalbandian and Assistant Secretary exchanged views on the settlement process of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) issue. In that context Philip Gordon stressed that as the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair the USA will continue to actively promote the efforts aimed at the settlement of the issue.