Joint Statement on Armenia-U.S. Strategic Dialogue Capstone

ArmInfo.The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the Republic  of Armenia and United States of America on the occasion of the Armenia- U.S. Strategic Dialogue Capstone meeting.

Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan hosted  Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia James C. O'Brien  and an interagency government delegation for the Armenia-U.S.   Strategic Dialogue (USASD) Capstone meeting, which took place in  Yerevan, Armenia, on June 11, 2024.  During the Capstone meeting,  Armenia and the United States reviewed progress on strengthening  bilateral relations and outlined a vision for deepening ties in the  coming year, to be formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding, to  upgrade the status of our bilateral dialogue to a Strategic  Partnership Commission. We look forward to outlining the specific  lines of effort to deepen our relations in the coming months. The  sides positively assessed cooperation to support Armenia's ongoing  reforms and democratic progress and noted Armenia's aspirations for  closer cooperation with Euro-Atlantic institutions and the West. The  United States reiterated its support for Armenia's sovereignty,  independence, democracy, and territorial integrity, in line with the  1991 Alma-Ata Declaration. 

Supporting Armenia's Economic and Energy Resilience

The delegations reviewed joint efforts to promote mutual prosperity  and economic and energy resilience through closer cooperation, taking  note of the important conversations on these topics that took place  during the Joint Armenia-EU-U.S. High Level Meeting on April 5, 2024,  in Brussels.  Noting that Armenia-U.S. trade turnover has already  quadrupled since 2020, the sides committed to continue to expand  commercial and trade ties to the greatest extent possible.  The sides  discussed increasing cooperation on sanctions and export controls.  They also reviewed options for export licensing to facilitate more  trade in advanced technology items.  Discussion also focused on  promoting Armenia's food security and energy independence, including  work already being done to identify U.S. commercial solutions in  nuclear energy and renewables.  USAID intends to support Armenia to  develop a transport strategy to underpin Armenia's vision of the  "Crossroads of Peace," encouraging and strengthening regional trade  and connectivity through a just and durable peace.  This peace will  unlock the entire region's potential and bring substantial benefits  for all people in the region.

The United States acknowledges the ongoing economic and social  challenges Armenia faces in supporting displaced persons and refugees  from Nagorno-Karabakh and intends to continue to assist the  Government of Armenia's efforts in this regard.  The United States  praised Armenia's efforts to shelter displaced persons and refugees,  and Armenia offered appreciation for the more than $21 million in  humanitarian assistance the United States has provided to support  displaced persons and refugees from Nagorno- Karabakh since September  2020. 

Strengthening Security and Law Enforcement Cooperation for Mutual  Benefit

Capstone meeting participants acknowledged the important role of U.S.  assistance to Armenia's defense transformation and law enforcement  development initiatives, which the United States intends to continue  to support through advisory programs, military-to-military contact  activities, professional military education opportunities through the  International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, and the  long- standing State Partnership Program with the Kansas National  Guard.  Delegations also recognized the significant cooperation  milestone reached with Exercise Eagle Partner 2023.  Representatives  of  the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia and the U.S.  Department of Defense also commended the start of the first annual  Staff Talks between the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the  Republic of Armenia and U.S. European Command in May 2024 and  resolved to initiate formal Armenia-U.S. Bilateral Defense  Consultations to regularize planning of defense cooperation  objectives.

Building on the successful establishment of Armenia's Patrol Police,  which achieved nationwide coverage in 2023, the two sides discussed  future U.S. assistance to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including  planned efforts to develop police education and modernize human  resources structures to increase accountability and sustainability.    

The United States appreciates Armenia's continued contributions to  global peacekeeping operations and looks forward to additional  cooperation on peacekeeping and law enforcement development.  

Promoting Justice, Democratic Institutions and Shared Democratic  Values

The delegations took stock of ongoing cooperation in the justice  sector, acknowledging significant U.S.  contributions to Armenia's  justice sector reform efforts.  The United States intends to also  continue to support Armenian institutions focused on preventing and  combating corruption and transnational organized crime, as well as  efforts aimed at fostering judicial impartiality, integrity and  independence.  The delegations discussed planned programming to  support victims and witnesses and ensure access to justice.  The  United States will continue to support the development of a robust  civil society and independent media environment to further strengthen  Armenia's democratic institutions and increase transparency.  Both  sides emphasized the importance of respecting human rights and  fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law and pledged to work  together in this regard.  Armenia and the United States reaffirmed  their commitment to shared democratic values and to the goal of an  Armenia that is democratic, prosperous, and peaceful.