US not pressuring Armenia to cut ties with other countries, says top diplomat

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the Washington administration is not pressuring Armenia to sever its friendly ties with other countries. He made the remarks during a hearing of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“I would note that the Russians are less than happy about our engagement in Armenia. I think there is evidence that they would like the current president to lose his election as a result of this growing relationship with the US,” Rubio said.

The US top diplomat stated that the United States was not encroaching on Armenia’s sovereignty and was not asking it to abandon its friendships with other countries. He added that Washington wanted relations to be built not solely on peace, noting that while peace was important, it was only the beginning and opened up opportunities in the economic sphere.

Commenting on the signing of a framework agreement between Armenia and the United States on strategic cooperation under the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project, Rubio said it would “stimulate investment from the American private sector.”

“We are not seeking a monopoly for American companies, but we want them to receive their fair share,” the US Secretary of State added.

By Vafa Guliyeva