FOREIGN MINISTER NALBANDIAN LETTER TO SECRETARY

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000234 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR S/ES-CR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL AM SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER NALBANDIAN LETTER TO SECRETARY CLINTON ¶1. (U) FM Nalbandian called in CDA April 1 to hand over a letter to the Secretary, in response to the her letter that EUR DAS Matt Bryza had delivered to Nalbandian March 25. Below is the verbatim text of the signed English-language original, which was dated March 31, 2009. ¶2. (SBU) Text: Dear Madame Secretary, I was very glad to receive your letter in which you emphasized your commitment to provide the utmost in achieving a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We have always valued the United States' constructive role as a Co-Chair of the Minsk Group, and we will appreciate, Madame Secretary, your substantial contribution at this important moment of negotiations. I would like to reaffirm Armenia's unwavering will to strengthen stability and security and enhance cooperation in the Caucasus. Our initiative and efforts towards normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations have brought promising results, and we are very close to the establishment of diplomatic relations and opening of the common border. We hope that the Turkish leadership will make a last decisive step in this direction. Within this context, I would like to express our gratitude to the United States for its continuous support. Armenia attaches great importance to our close relations with the United States of America and is committed to enhance and intensify our partnership. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate President Sargsyan's invitation, extended to you during your telephone conversation, to visit Armenia. I look forward to meeting you at your earliest convenience and to working closely with you for the benefit of our peoples and for the deepening of the friendly relations between our two countries. Please, accept, Madame Secretary, the assurances of my highest consideration. Sincerely, /s/ EDWARD NALBANDIAN H.E. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON Secretary of State Of the United States of America Washington, DC End Text PENNINGTON