US Ambassador on violations in the RA
During the Facebook briefing in reply to the question by “A1+” why the United States isn’t demanding enough towards the Armenian authorities in the sense of ensuring the desired results in the sectors of corruption and human rights protection and how he imagines the accomplishments expected in the abovementioned sectors, Richard Mills, the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, replied: “Fighting against corruption and ensuring the protection of human rights is a hard, tough fight. It’s a fight we have to conduct every day in the United States, and the key is not to set impossible goals. The key is to be committed to achieving practical and meaningful results. I think there have been positive accomplishments in Armenia, especially in the provision of basic government services to Armenian citizens. I hear from Armenians that I talk to that they are increasingly able to get the services they are owed by their government, in a transparent manner, without paying a bribe, and without using other levers of influence. By other measures, for instance the World Bank’s “Doing Business” report, Armenia has improved the ability of businesses to operate, pay taxes, and customs fees in a transparent and open way. In 2012, according to the report, Armenia was 153rd in the world. Last year, it was 41st. That is something to take pride in and encouragement from. I know that there remain significant issues of powerful interests using their economic and political power in an unfair manner, driving out competitors and obtaining special benefits and allowances. But I also know from talking with Armenians across the country that they are committed to fighting this, and they do not accept this as an Armenian value or as a standard operating procedure for business in Armenia. The Embassy is committed to standing with those Armenians fighting against corruption, providing what tools we can in conducting that fight, and identifying where progress is being made, as well as where more needs to be done. Ambassador Mills also answered the questions about Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement and situation at the Line of Contact: “There can be no lasting military solution of Nagorno Karabakh. The escalation of tragic violence and rhetoric along the line of contact is a source of deep concern to the U.S. government. The possibility of that escalation triggering even through misjudgment or error along the line of conflict is real in my view. That is why the Minsk Group Co-Chairs have urged both sides to take steps to reduce the level of violence along the line of contact, and to implement mechanisms for monitoring the situation. This was a topic of discussion when the two Presidents met in Bern, Switzerland, in December. The U.S. Co-Chair, Ambassador Warlick, is engaged with the other Co-Chairs in continuing to move the dialogue forward.”
