Deputy Secretary of State Uzra Zeya arrived in Yerevan Monday, becoming the second senior American official to visit the country with promises of support and assistance for Armenia.
Zeya’s visit followed a high-profile trip last week by USAID Administrator Samantha Power, who pledged continued U.S. support to Armenia for democracy building and assistance for the more than 100,000 forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians.
“Greetings from Armenia,” Zeya wrote on X upon arriving in Yerevan. “I was happy to meet the US Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien. We look forward to strengthening cooperation with government and civil society partners to promote democratic rule of law, fight against corruption and judicial reforms.”
Zeya met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who emphasized the importance of consistent development of the “multi-faceted Armenia-U.S. cooperation.”
Pashinyan’s press office said the prime minister emphasized the U.S.’ continued support for “the effective promotion of democratic reforms in our country, particularly in the fields of justice, fight against corruption, effective administration, public services, police and other areas.”
Pashinyan said advancement of democracy is his government’s strategic priority.
Zeya told the Pashinyan that the U.S. attaches great importance to the development and strengthening of cooperation with Armenia, and “the technical and financial support for the development of democratic institutions to our country will be continuous.”
She lauded what she called significant the steps taken in recent years towards the development of democracy in Armenia and emphasized the importance of programs and reforms aimed at the protection of human rights, freedom of speech, justice, and the fight against corruption.
Pashinyan and Zeya also discussed the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Zeya pledged that the U.S. “will continue to contribute to the establishment of real peace between the two countries and the provision of security and stability in the region.”
The two also discussed issues related to the humanitarian challenges facing the forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians, with Pashinyan briefing the U.S. official about the measures taken by his government to address those issues.
Accompanied by Ambassador Kvien, Zeya visited the Dzidzernagapert Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex and met with “civil society leaders,” according to a statement by the U.S. Embassy.
