Armenian PM notes importance of close cooperation with U.S

YEREVAN. April 18 (Interfax) - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted the importance of progressively developing close cooperation with the United States at a meeting with Erika Olson, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State overseeing policy for southern Europe and the Caucasus, in Yerevan on Tuesday.

"Pashinyan underlined the importance of progressively developing close cooperation with the United States and [...] promoting the agenda of the Armenian-U.S. strategic dialogue. He lauded the U.S. administration's assistance with democratic reforms in Armenia, and said that the implementation of this agenda is a strategy and priority of the Armenian government," the Armenian governmental press service said in a statement.

The Prime Minister also noted "the importance of U.S. efforts to establish stability and peace in the region."

In turn, Olson said that the United States "would continue cooperating in the effective implementation of democratic reforms in Armenia" and noted "the great significance attached by the government of her country to continuously developing relations with Armenia, including economic [relations]," the press service said.

Pashinyan and Olson also discussed issues around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the elaboration of a mechanism for international dialogue between Stepanakert and Baku, the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the unblocking of regional transport infrastructure, it said.