Armenia attaches great importance to its partner relations with the USA, Tigran Balayan, Spokesman for the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told ArmInfo's correspondent, touching upon the statement made by Richard Mills, US Ambassador to Armenia. The statement says that corruption is a serious problem for Armenia and its sets back the country's overall development.
"Armenia attaches great importance to its partner relations with the USA, the key direction of which is an Armenian-US dialogue aimed at the efficient implementation of reforms in the democratic institutions and state governmental system," Balayan says in his response.
Top note, in an interview with the RFE/RL Armenian Service (Azatutyun), US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills said that corruption sets back economic growth, hurts human rights development, and undermines democracy. He thinks corruption "even undermines the national security" because outside forces can control the development of the country. He also noted that if the problem isn't solved it will affect a large part of Armenian-US relationship in specific areas, for instance, investment. "My message to anyone who has an issue of corruption is find the way to highlight it, don't be afraid to speak up, I do believe there are tools at your disposal within the government to address it, to find someone who will help you address it," he said.