The Armenia-US Friendship Group of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia payed a working visit to Washington

15 November, 2019

The Armenia-US Friendship Group of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia payed a working visit in Washington on November 12-15. The Group was led by its Chair Ms. Lilit Makunts, who is also the Head of the ruling “My Step” faction. Vahe Enfiajyan, Vice President of the National Assembly and a member of the “Prosperous Armenia” faction, Edmon Marukyan, Head of the “Bright Armenia” faction and Tatevik Hayrapetyan, member of the “My step” faction, were also in the delegation.

On the first day of the visit, the delegation met with Rep. Frank Pallone, Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues. During the meeting, the Armenian parliamentarians expressed their gratitude for the efforts Congressman Pallone exerted for the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution H.296 by the House of Representatives. They discussed prospects for further deepening the cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries, with an aim of its future institutionalization. The sides also touched upon Congressman’s recent visit to Armenia and Artsakh and the implementation of the agreements reached during the visit.

The delegation also met with Alex Hoehn-Saric, Staff Director of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, as well as with Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks, Commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission. Issues on media freedom, impartial and objective journalism and cybersecurity were discussed during the meetings. The Armenian side highlighted the challenges related to spreading of fake news.

At the meeting with Alex Sokolowski, Deputy Assistant Administrator at USAID, Armenian parliamentarians presented the agenda of the reforms undertaken by the Government of Armenia aimed at strengthening democracy, reform of judiciary, fight against corruption and respective legislative packages currently under discussion at the National Assembly. Possibilities of the US engagement and providing support for the reforms were touched upon.

During the meeting with Congressman Jim Langevin, the interlocutors touched upon the further enhancement and deepening of the cooperation between the National Assembly and the Congress. Rep. Langevin expressed his readiness to support initiatives aimed at the development of the Armenia-US cooperation.

On the second day of the visit, meetings were held with a number of Senators, as well as with representatives of different Washington-based think tanks.

During the meeting with Senators Jack Reed and Edward Markey, the Armenian delegation highlighted the reforms undertaken in Armenia and the legislative packages carried out by the National Assembly aimed at the implementation of those reforms. The interlocutors touched upon the foreign policy of the Republic of Armenia, including the recent developments over the Nagorno Karabakh negotiation process.

The delegation also met with Congressmen David Price and Vern Buchanan, respectively Chairman and Vice-Chair of the House Democracy Partnership. Armenian parliamentarians emphasized the fact that Armenia-US relations have reached the level of a strategic dialogue and noted the necessity of deepening the full-scale cooperation within that framework. The sides discussed issues on the institutional cooperation between the National Assembly and the Congress within the framework of the House Democracy Partnership.

Sessions with Dr Daniel Twinning, President of Experts, and Stephen Nix, Regional Director of Eurasia of “International Republican Institute,” covered the results of surveys carried out by IRI in Armenia, the significance of those surveys in the context of reforms, and the need to develop the role of the institutions.

At the end of the day, the Armenian delegation participated in the reception hosted by the Congressional Armenian Caucus and the Open World Leadership Center. Co-chair of the Armenian Caucus Rep. Frank Pallone, its members Judy Chu, Anna Eshoo, Brad Sherman, David Price, Paul Tonko delivered speeches. Rep. Pallone and Rep. Chu shared impressions of their recent visit to Armenia and Artsakh and reaffirmed their commitment to support the Armenian issues in the Congress. Varuzhan Nersesyan, Ambassador of Armenia to the USA, and Lilit Makunts, Head of the Armenia-US friendship group, also addressed the reception.

On the third day of the visit the delegation met with the leaders of the American Jewish Congress /AJC/. The Armenian parliamentarians expressed gratitude for the announcement the AJC made on the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Several issues on possible cooperation were discussed.
The National Assembly delegation participated in a round table discussion organized by the German Marshall Fund. In her speech about ongoing reforms in Armenia, particularly the fight against corruption, Lilit Makunts highlighted the political will of Armenia to build an independent and reliable judicial system and reflected on a range of issues on foreign policy. During the Q&A session the topics of Armenia-EU, Armenia-Russia relations, questions on domestic issues were addressed.

At the meetings with Congressmen Chris Smith and David Cicilline, issues of cooperation in a number of areas were discussed.

Lilit Makunts also met with Senator Bob Menendez. They spoke about the ongoing reforms in Armenia and the agenda of the bilateral Armenia-US cooperation. Ms. Makunts extended her gratitude to Senator Menendez for initiating the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the Senate and expressed her hope that it would be adopted.

On the third day, the delegation met Michael Lemmon, John Evans and John Heffern– the former US ambassadors to Armenia. The ambassadors commended the reforms undertaken after the Velvet Revolution and the further steps aimed at the comprehensive reforms in the country.

The last two meetings of the visit of the Armenian Delegation were held at the US Department of State. With George Kent, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs and Alan Purcell, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, human rights and labor, the Parliament members talked about the reforms undertaken by the Government and the National Assembly of Armenia since the Velvet Revolution and their impact on the further development of the Armenia-US relations.

During the visit the delegation had meetings with the representatives of the Armenian Assembly of America and Armenian National Committee of America.

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