Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Bridget Brink who is paying a regional visit to Armenia.
“Armenia attaches great importance to cooperation and development of strong partnerships with the United States in all areas. I am ready to discuss with you any matter of common interest on the agenda of our relations,” the Prime Minister said welcoming the guests,.
Congratulating Karen Karapetyan on appointment to the post of RA Prime Minister, Bridget Brink emphasized, “The Government of the United States is ready to cooperate with you, as well as with Deputy Prime Minister Vache Gabrielyan and other members of your team to work in all possible directions and on the most important issues of our bilateral agenda, in particular, the fight against corruption, reforms and the deepening of the Armenian-American business relations and economic ties.”
At the request of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, the Premier gave details of economic development priorities and per-sector activities outlined in the program of the Government of the Republic of Armenia.
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According to Karen Karapetyan, the key to economic growth is to create a fair, equitable and transparent business environment – a barrier-free environment – and this function covers a number of areas: fight against corruption, reducing the shadow, reform of tax and customs administration, judicial and legal systems and others.
The Prime Minister said that the program will be carried out through short-term and long-term steps and the constituted for this purpose Center of Strategic Initiatives will serve as a platform for outlining Armenia’s long-term development directions.
The Head of Government emphasized the priority of public administration reform, which will help shape an effective State apparatus and create an appropriate working environment to attract qualified managers.
Welcoming the proposed programs and reforms, Bridget Brink said the U.S. government is prepared to assist as much as possible the Government of Armenia with its endeavors.
The meeting discussed a wide range of issues related to the development of Armenian-American cooperation. The parties, in particular, touched on joint programs and tasks to be implemented in the frames of struggle against corruption.
In the matter of achieving success in the anti-corruption fight, Karen Karapetyan noted the need to change the environment conducive to corruption, stressing that the government is focusing on this very circumstance in implementing the envisaged measures. In this context the sides noted the importance of the change in public thinking, active efforts towards improving the efficiency of the feedback, and anti-corruption mechanisms, exchange of experience.
The interlocutors also exchanged views on the reform of judicial and legal spheres, the reforms implemented in our country with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development, as well as on the need to deepen cooperation in a number of areas with great potential: agriculture, tourism, energy, information technology and mining.
