Gordon: we continue to encourage normalization between Turkey and Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Today, Europe is almost fully democratic, largely unified, and is America’s most important global partner, U.S. Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs said.

In his testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia, Philip H. Gordon stated that the U.S. and Europe work together on an extraordinarily wide range of issues, from Afghanistan to Iran to the tumultuous events in North Africa and the Middle East.

Turning to the Caucasus, Gordon said that “our joint efforts with the European Union in the region have resulted in progress, but disputes over territory and a need for further political and economic reform remain serious obstacles to greater stability throughout the Caucasus.”

“In Georgia, our steadfast engagement and generous assistance has aided in transforming Georgia into an aspiring democracy and important partner to NATO in Afghanistan. Together, with our European partners, we will maintain our support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders. Elsewhere in the Caucasus, we will continue with the Europeans to encourage normalization between Turkey and Armenia, and increase our engagement through the Minsk Group to help Armenia and Azerbaijan find a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We believe that the United States and Europe must work together to avoid further conflict in Europe and help the countries in the region move towards a democratic future that includes peace and greater prosperity,” he said.