Today, the Congressional Armenian Caucus leadership wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to enhance the United States-Armenia Joint Economic Task Force (USATF) “into a platform for sustained strategic dialogue,” fostering “shared interests, common values, and the enduring friendship” between Americans and Armenians, stated the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
“In the wake of Armenia’s recent political transition, capped by this past week’s free and fair Parliamentary elections, Armenia has emerged as a model of democratic development, far outperforming many other states in the post-Soviet space and setting an international standard for the peaceful, civil society-driven, constitutional transfer of power,” the letter said. “Now is the time to build off Armenia’s democratic progress, taking our bilateral relations to the next level – in the political, economic, military, and cultural arenas.”
Today’s letter to Secretary Pompeo comes approximately one week after Armenia’s democratic parliamentary elections, and follows the December 14th congratulatory letter to Nikol Pashinyan and the citizens of Armenia by Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), along with the Armenian Caucus leadership.
“The Armenian Assembly applauds the Armenian Caucus for looking at ways to deepen U.S.-Armenia relations as Armenia continues its remarkable democratic reforms. Expanding economic development and trade opportunities as well as addressing the dual blockades imposed by Turkey and Azerbaijan against Armenia for over a quarter century are important priorities,” Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny stated.