Nikol Pashinyan held talks with Samantha Power

ArmInfo.Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led  by USAID Administrator Samantha Power. The delegation also included U.S. State Department Acting Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Yuri Kim.

According to the press service of the RA Prime Minister, Pashiyann  welcomed Power's visit to Armenia at this difficult time. "I believe  you are aware of the overall situation, because we've had the  opportunity to discuss this situation with members of the US House of  Representatives, and two days ago I had a phone call with Secretary  of State Blinken..

Our partners maintain contact and I think it's very important that we  have this opportunity to discuss all details of the current situation  in our region," the RA Prime Minister said.  "As you know,  unfortunately at this moment the process of ethnic cleansing of  Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh continues, and this is a very tragic  fact. We were trying to warn the international community that the  ethnic cleansing would happen, but regrettably we were unable to  prevent it. But this situation and the tension continues to grow in  our region, and now it is very important to take concrete steps to  prevent further escalation and even bigger problems. I am very glad  for this opportunity and I welcome you in our country," the head of  the RA Cabinet of Ministers said.

In turn, Samantha Power thanked the Prime Minister for the warm  welcome provided to the delegation she led. "I know how busy you are  given the current situation. President Biden sent me and my  delegation here to underscore the U.S.'s deep commitment to Armenia's  sovereignty, territorial integrity and democracy. I know that the  USAID is working with the Armenian people, and the government of  Armenia has never displayed irresolution in this matter, and this is  very important.

"We have arrived in Armenia, and I hope to once again have a chance  to come here to discuss our steps aimed at strengthening your  deepening democracy, but during this visit, of course, we are focused  on a concrete crisis, on the humanitarian needs of the people of  Nagorno-Karabakh, the humanitarian needs of those who fled  Nagorno-Karabakh. I believe approximately 5000 people crossed into  Armenia today, and we are treating very seriously our responsibility  to mobilize resources, ourselves, to support the local self-governing  bodies in finding accommodation and other measures of assistance, but  also to encourage other countries to do the same," she said.

According to Power, the United States of America will continue to  work with both your and the Azerbaijani government in the direction  of achieving lasting peace between the countries, also taking into  consideration the deep economic benefit and stability it would ensure  for the Armenian people. "The steps you have taken in separation of  powers, fight against corruption, these are all investments in  Armenia's future," said Power, who also conveyed a letter from U.S.   President Joe Biden addressed to Pashinyan.

The interlocutors also discussed the humanitarian situation in  Nagorno-Karabakh, the possibility of providing support to compatriots  in Artsakh, events taking place in the region, as well as the further  development and expansion of Armenia-US cooperation.