YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–According to United States National Security Council official Michael Matera–the US government is closely watching the development of events in the Transcaucasus and is interested in boosting relations with Armenia.
These statemen’s were made during a meeting between Matera and Prime Minister Robert Kocharian Thursday.
Matera–who is the NSC official responsible for Russia–Ukraine and Eurasia–stressed that Armenia had achieved some progress in boosting democracy in recent months.
Presenting the course of economic and democratic reform in Armenia to the US official–Kocharian stressed that economic restructuring was underway and the government work was aimed at giving it a fresh momentum.
According to him–the successful realization of these economic reforms is of vital importance to Armenia.
Referring to the internal political situation–Kocharian stressed the importance of creating an atmosphere of national accord.
"The government policies are aimed at solving all issues by means of compromise–and the government has repeatedly stated its willingness to cooperate with all political parties," Kocharian said.
The sides also discussed the recent developmen’s in the negotiating process of the Karabakh conflict.
The meeting was also attended by Chief of the US State Department’s Caucasus Division Steven Young–US Ambassador to Armenia Peter Tomsen and other governmental officials.
In addition–Matera and Young met with Levon Ter-Petrosyan Thursday.
Ter-Petrosyan told Matera there are no conflicting ideals between the United States and Armenia in the matters of economic cooperation–state building and promotion of democratic institutions.
In fact–Ter-Petrosyan added–Armenia will be cooperating with the United States in gaining strength in those fields.
Accompanying the officials during the meeting were Ter-Petrosyan’s chief advisor Jirair Libaridian and Tomsen.