New U.S. envoy announces Karabakh settlement among top priorities

PanARMENIAN.Net - The newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills announced Karabakh conflict settlement and Armenia's peaceful coexistence with neighboring countries among the priorities of the embassy. The announcement was made during the new envoy's swearing-in ceremony in Yerevan. Around the same time, Yerevan slammed Baku over refusal to adhere to OSCE Minsk Group-proposed initiatives for trust-building and ceasefire observation, Nezavisimaya Gazeta Russian daily reports.

"In Yerevan, I will make it a priority to coordinate with Ambassador James Warlick, the U.S. Co-¬Chair of the Minsk Group, on how the Embassy and I can assist his efforts to quell this troubling upsurge in violence and find a peaceful settlement,” the envoy said.

As he further noted, “the goal of our Armenian policy is straightforward: a free and prosperous Armenia, at peace with its neighbors. To achieve that goal, my priorities will be to assist the Armenian Government and people in strengthening Armenia’s democracy and rule of law; and liberalizing its economy and expanding its trade with a range of partners, including the United States.”

Mills' statement caused disagreement among the experts. Some believe it to be a collection of standard remarks and empty promises. Others saw it as an intention to change Armenia's internal political conjuncture, violate status quo in Karabakh, and strengthen the U.S. presence in Armenia and South Caucasus. The latters believe the timing to be most suitable in the light of strained Armenia-Russia ties over the Gyumri family massacre at the hand of a Russian serviceman, the daily said.