Friday, 9 February 2018
Karen Karapetyan, Bridget Brink Highlight Second Session of U.S.-Armenian Council to Be Held in Washington
Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Bridget Brink.
Welcoming Ms. Brink’s visit to Armenia, the Premier stressed the importance of reciprocated high-level official visits which provide an opportunity to discuss the USA-Armenia partnership agenda and outline development prospects. Karen Karapetyan described as quite effective today’s presentation-discussion on USAID Armenia programs, which was organized in cooperation with USAID representatives. The Prime Minister noted that the Armenian government will push ahead with the ongoing comprehensive reform process with a clear vision of our country’s economic development.
The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State welcomed the Government’s reforms, noting that at a meeting held earlier today with the business community representatives she was already presented with positive feedback on the recent improvements in the sphere of tax and customs administration. Bridget Brink underscored that the United States is actively working with the Armenian partners to expand the agenda of cooperation and deepen economic ties.
Touching upon the prospects of bilateral economic relations, the interlocutors attached importance to the activities of the USA-Armenia Intergovernmental Commission and the U.S.-Armenian Council, operational under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).
Pleased with the current status of cooperation in the fields of energy, IT, high technologies and tourism, the Prime Minister suggested considering the possibility of implementing business projects in a number of spheres (information technologies, agriculture, etc.).
Both sides stressed the importance of the upcoming second session of the U.S.-Armenian Council to be held in Washington this March. In this connection, Bridget Brink stated in part: “We look forward to formulating specific ideas about ways of promoting our economic partnership.”
Concerning the business climate improvement-targeted efforts, the Prime Minister and the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State exchanged views on reforms in the judiciary, public administration, anti-corruption strategy, as well as on the prospects of bilateral economic cooperation. The sides reaffirmed their willingness to develop and deepen the ongoing effective cooperation.
