Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, who is on a working visit to the United States, met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on 2 May.

According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Ararat Mirzoyan greeted Blinken on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Armenia and the United States and praised the current level of political interaction between the two countries.

It was emphasised that over the years the sides have established a solid partnership based on the common values ​​of democracy, protection of human rights, and the rule of law. Mirzoyan highlighted the support provided by the United States to Armenia for the strengthening of democracy, sustainable development, and the fight against corruption. Anthony Blinken positively assessed the democratic reforms implemented in Armenia, and underscored the U.S’ continuous support of this work.

Prospects for the development of cooperation in areas of mutual interest were discussed. The Armenian FM stressed the need for deepening trade and economic ties with the United States, emphasising that there are tangible opportunities for expanding Armenian-American cooperation in the fields of information technologies, advanced technologies, energy, finance, banking, civil aviation, green economy and others.

Mirzoyan highly appreciated the U.S. principled position of the U.S. on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, underscored the importance of the statement of U.S. President Joe Biden on the anniversary of the Genocide this year, which reaffirms the commitment of U.S. to humanitarian and human rights principles.

The Armenian side presented the situation in the South Caucasus region and Armenia's position on the processes aimed at establishing regional peace and stability. The speakers exchanged ideas on starting negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on a comprehensive peace agreement. Mirzoyan stressed the importance of the U.S. mediating efforts aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Ararat Mirzoyan briefed Antony Blinken on the actions of Azerbaijan aimed at creating a “humanitarian crisis” in separatist Nagorno-Karabakh and subjecting Nagorno-Karabakh to full “ethnic cleansing.”During the meeting, reference was made to the implementation of the agreements on the establishment of the Commission on Border Demarcation and Security. Mirzoyan also briefed  Blinken on the developments in the process of normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey, stressing the readiness of the Armenian side to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey, and open their shared border. Secretary Blinken noted that the United States fully supports the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey and recognises Armenia's constructive efforts in that process.

At the end of the meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan and Antony Blinken signed a memorandum of mutual understanding on “Cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy” between Armenia and the United States.