President Vahagn Khachaturyan met with Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass

Within the framework of his working visit to US state of California, President of the Republic Vahagn Khachaturyan met with Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass.

Greeting the President, Mrs. Bass said: "We have an honor to welcome RA President Vahagn Khachaturyan in LA Mayor’s office today. As the sister city of Yerevan, Los Angeles supports Armenia and will continue to ensure the well-being of Armenians living in Los Angeles, providing them with the necessary support for prosperity. The United States and Armenia have a strong relationship based on common values and commitment to the democratic process, and we expect lasting and strong cooperation with Armenia and the Armenian people."

Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome and words, President Vahagn Khachaturyan noted: "We highly appreciate the dynamically developing cooperation between Armenia and the United States over the decades. Armenia has a special attitude towards California and Los Angeles, firstly, for the simple reason that one of the largest Armenian Communities in the United States is located in your state and, in particular, in Los Angeles, as well as due to a number of economic realities. I mean, in recent years the information technology sector has acquired a significant role in the Armenian economy, and in this regard, one of our priorities is to expand cooperation with major representatives of the IT sector located in California's Silicon Valley and promote their representativeness in Armenia.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank You, as well as the top leadership of the United States, for the support that the American side has been providing to Armenia recently, at this difficult time for our state. I am also confident that our meeting will be an additional incentive for the further development of effective cooperation between our countries."

The President of the Republic stressed that in conditions of shortfall in energy, Armenia pays special attention to the development of human intellectual capital.

During the meeting, the sides touched upon the opportunities and ways of applying the best American experience in Armenia within the framework of reforms carried out in local governments and community infrastructures. In this regard, the President of the Los Angeles City Council, Paul Krekorian, noted the expediency of implementing joint experience exchange and retraining programs for Los Angeles and Yerevan municipalities’ employees, as well as the importance of stimulating the start of taking necessary steps in this direction.

During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on the prospects of direct flights between the United States and Armenia and, in particular, the realization of such an opportunity for Los Angeles-Yerevan direction and the implementation of necessary steps.

Regional realities and developments were also touched upon at the meeting, in connection with which President Vahagn Khachaturyan reaffirmed Armenia's clear position on solving problems with its neighbors through peaceful negotiations, within the framework of fundamental international rights and norms, as well as the principles of peaceful coexistence.

"The basis of the implementation of Armenia's foreign policy is the necessary political will to achieve peace," the President noted.

At the end of the meeting, an agreement was reached to support the process of expanding cooperation between the two countries to the fullest.