Tuesday, October 16 2018 15:27

ArmInfo.Now Armenia is a different country than it was 3.5 years ago. The US ambassador to RA Richard Mills stated this in an interview with evnreport.com.

He stated that he was very encouraged by the latest changes in  Armenia. "But I am also sure that the country will have a difficult  path, and nevertheless, it is on the right path," the diplomat said.

At the same time, he expressed some concern that even constructive  criticism at the moment can be viewed as a step against the latest  processes. "I think that Pashinyan himself should stimulate public  discourse," the ambassador said.

Touching upon the Armenian-American relations, the ambassador noted  that the United States regards Armenia as a friendly country in the  region. "Realizing the special character of Armenian-Russian  relations, which have historical roots, we do not exert pressure on  Armenia in this matter. We just want to be sure that Armenia  continues to maintain its sovereignty and make its own decisions," he  explained.

According to him, the US is particularly interested in ensuring  Armenia's energy independence through the development of hydropower.  "In this case, it can sell electricity to Georgia, thereby, earning  from this income," said Mills.

Referring to the Karabakh settlement, he noted that the issue of  returning to the "occupied territories" is one of the fundamental  points of the Madrid principles: "I was surprised to come here, and  realizing that society is not ready for this." According to the  ambassador, after the April war, the issue of the return of  territories for the Armenian society has become even more  complicated.

At the same time, he stressed that the status quo no longer proceeds  from the interests of Armenia, since in the context of closed borders  and limited human and material resources, corruption risks increase.   "Corruption is not born and thrives, because people are bad, but  because of the appropriate conditions for this," the diplomat said.

Speaking about the Armenian-Iranian relations, he stressed that the  United States is aware that in the context of the closed borders of  Iran, in certain cases, as, for example, during the 2008  Russian-Georgian war, it was the only way connecting Armenia with the  outside world. "Therefore, we do not insist on reconsidering  relations with Iran, but at the same time we expect Armenia, as our  partner, to have a" special "manifestation. We believe that Iran  encourages world terrorism, and we expect that Armenia, I understand  that it can be difficult, but we expect it, "explained Mills, adding  that even now, when sanctions against Iran have tightened, Washington  does not insist on revising the economic relations between Yerevan  and Tehran:" We only warned Armenian businessmen be more vigilant, h  These sanctions did not affect them. "

Referring to bilateral economic ties, the ambassador noted that the  United States had already increased its financial assistance to  Armenia by $ 14 million. In 2018, $ 26 million will be provided to  the country.