Remarks With Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian Before Their Meeting

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
May 5, 2009




Date: 05/05/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton meets with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian before their meeting.  © State Department photo by Michael Gross
SECRETARY CLINTON:
Well, good morning, and it’s a great pleasure to welcome the foreign minister here today. The relationship between the United States and Armenia is a very lasting and durable one. The Obama Administration is committed to broadening it, deepening it, working with Armenia to assist them in their continued development and aspirations. And it’s a great pleasure to welcome the minister. And I look forward to our talks, sir.

FOREIGN MINISTER NALBANDIAN: Thank you, Madame Secretary. Thank you very much for your warm welcome. Our meeting is a good opportunity to move forward our bilateral agenda and to discuss a wide range of issues. We are determined to strengthen, to deepen, to enhance our friendly partnership with the United States. This is the main message of my visit to Washington. And I would like to use this opportunity to express our thanks to the Administration of the United States, to Madame Secretary, and to the State Department for all constant efforts to help to support the normalization process with Turkey and settlement – peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Thank you very much.

SECRETARY CLINTON: It’s an honor to assist. Thank you, Mr. Minister.

FOREIGN MINISTER NALBANDIAN: Thank you very much.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all very much.



PRN: 2009/417