According to the recent edition of the American “California Courier” newspaper, the U.S. is going to call Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the U.S. in Armenia John Evans back to the States for using the word “Genocide” and for discussing the politics led by the U.S. on recognition of the word.
Also, according to the newspaper, the U.S. has decided to call the ambassador based on the pressure by Turkey and Azerbaijan. It is even stated that Evans has already informed the Armenian authorities about his departure. During a press conference with the U.S. State Secretary’s vice for European and Eurasian issues Matthew Breizen, this news was neither confirmed nor denied.
“The ambassador himself may comment on this. I hope that there is no such thing because he truly is a wonderful ambassador and, as all of us, he is serving the President of the U.S. By working with the president’s administrative staff, I have learned that I should never discuss the president’s decisions, including his decisions made in choosing cadres. But I must say that Evans has truly formed a great team here in Armenia. I have been in many embassies and I evaluate their work. This embassy really does its job. Ambassador Evans has done a great job and we are lucky to have him here in Armenia,” said Matthew Breizen in response to the journalists’ questions.
The U.S. is planning on using its resources to have democracy in Armenia “make its way up the ladder”.
“One of the main reasons that I am here is to research and find ways to further develop Armenia’s democratic transition,” said vice U.S. State Secretary Matthew Breizen, stating that the U.S. considers Armenia to be a democratizing country. It is worth mentioning that Breizen also met with Armenian political figures in the U.S. embassy minutes after his press conference. Not only had the leading oppositionists such as Stepan Demirchyan, Artashes Geghamyan rushed to the meeting, but also Aram Z. Sargsyan, David Shahnazaryan, Alexander Arzumanyan. Minister of Defense of Armenia Serj Sargsyan and Armenia’s General Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepyan were also present. Mr. Breizen has also had private meetings with the Minister of Defense Serge Sargsyan and head of the National Assembly Arthur Baghdasaryan.
The vice U.S. State Secretary’s visit to Armenia had fallen on the same day of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen’s visit to Washington. Journalists tried to find out just how those two meetings were tied to each other. It turns out that those meetings just happened to fall on the same day.
Journalists also referred to the Karabagh conflict during the press conference.
“I don’t agree with those who think that the Rambeau negotiations failed. The conflict is in a labyrinth and the OSCE Minsk Group can’t do anything anymore. Of course, both sides didn’t agree on anything, however, that is not considered a failure. The two sides are very close to a conflict settlement, but the remaining issues are always the hardest and most important ones. Both presidents have to make clear decisions on all the remaining issues. The presidents have to decide the conflict settlement deadlines and we will do everything to make them decide soon,” said the representative of the U.S. Secretary of State.
Breizen also touched upon the issue concerning Armenia’s energy sector and the Armenia-Iran gas pipeline. Let’s recall the last press conference with U.S. Ambassador in Armenia John Evans, when he said that any country that makes an unlimited number of investments in Iran’s energy sector will be punished by the U.S. However, Mr. Breizen announced that the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline has nothing to do with Iran’s nuclear weapon project.
“Although Armenia’s gas pipeline connected to Iran has nothing to do with Iran’s nuclear weapon project, however, the U.S. would not like to see Armenia help Iran develop,” said Breizen.
The vice State Secretary emphasized the fact that the secret to securing Armenia’s energy sector is to diversify energy sources.
“One of the goals of my visit is to reach success in securing Armenia’s energy sector and to find out what kind of resources there are to secure the energy in the region and Europe. Armenia has been supplied with gas from Russia for years and that should continue. Today, Armenia is also cooperating with Iran and this is also another path for diversifying energetic resources,” said Matthew Breizen.
Breizen also pointed out the fact that it is still too early to talk about declaring war on Iran since the U.S. is currently working on solving the matter through diplomacy. But if Iran continues its nuclear weapon project, consequences may be “severe and painful,” as stated by Breizen.