YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright addressed a letter to Armenian President Robert Kocharian–in which she discussed the Washington meeting of the leaders of the three Caucasus countries. She stressed that the meeting foreshadowed serious progress in establishing peace and economic cooperation in the region.
"This success as well as my bilateral meetings with you [Kocharian] and President of Azerbaijan Haydar Aliyev show that there are real preconditions for progress." Albright hoped that the ideas discussed during the meetings will become reality as soon as possible. She reiterated the need for a comprehensive and durable settlement of the Karabakh conflict based on the peace proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group.
The presidential press service quoted Albright as hailing Kocharian’s statement at the NATO 50 Summit that democratic progress is connected with stability and peace in the region.
In regards to the May 30 parliamentary elections in Armenia–Albright said that "they demonstrated a better process," congratulating the Armenian president on the occasion. Foreign observers–including the OSCE observation mission–made certain proposals as to how to improve the election process–Albright added.
In conclusion of her letter–the US official said–"We are ready for cooperation with you and the people of your country in order to stimulate Armenia’s transition to democracy".