The new U.S. ambassador Lynne Tracy went to Gyumri for a two-day visit. She said at the American Corner in Gyumri that this is her first time in the city, and in general outside of Yerevan. The ambassador was appreciated by the warm welcome and hospitality she was shown in Gyumri. The ambassador also allowed for three questions to be asked.
When asked if there are any specific projects that she would like to be implemented in Gyumri, the ambassador said, “One of the reasons that I wanted to come to Gyumri is because we recognize that it is important to have partnerships with all the regions of Armenia, not just Yerevan. I think one of the places where we have a real intersection of interests is in the development of technology. I was just hearing about Gyumri as a technology leader, and so this is a place where we see the potential for continued partnership.”
Regarding officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the ambassador repeated what she said at the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial, “I was able to represent the United States to show our respect for the memory of the victims of the 1915 tragedy, one of the worst mass atrocities of the 20th century, something that I acknowledged in my confirmation hearing. I want to be clear that we acknowledge historical facts, but we wanted to honor the memory of the victims at this memorial service. I also want to be sure that I emphasize that we also draw inspiration from the courage and resilience that the Armenian people showed in 1915. The Armenian people have gone on to create vibrant communities here in Armenia, but also around the world, including in the United States, where we are very grateful for the contributions of Americans of Armenian heritage to the United States.”
And regarding Armenian-Turkish relations, she said, “I think what’s most important is to try to help promote dialogue between the Armenian people and the Turkish people. What I’ve heard since I’ve arrived is that there are already these sorts of connections: people-to-people connections, business-to-business connections. I think that’s the important place to start from. It gives government a place to come in and help support, so I think that’s the important focus right now.”
Read also
Nune Arevshatyan
