OCT 20 LETTER FROM FM NALBANDIAN TO THE SECRETARY

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000746 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR S/ES-CR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PGOV PREL TU AM SUBJECT: OCT 20 LETTER FROM FM NALBANDIAN TO THE SECRETARY ¶1. (U) On October 20, while receiving EUR DAS Tina Kaidanow in Yerevan, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian handed over a letter addressed by him to the Secretary. Below is the verbatim text of the signed-English language original, which is dated October 20, ¶2009. Post will send signed original separately. ¶2. (SBU) Text: Madam Secretary, I would like to take the opportunity of the visit of Deputy Assistant Secretary Tina Kaidanow to Armenia and transmit this letter to your attention. It is my pleasure and honor to extend my gratitude to the State Department and to you, personally, for the crucial role you play, Madam Secretary, in the normalization process of Armenia-Turkey relations. I would like to thank you once again for your vital contribution during the signing of bilateral Protocols in Zurich. Please cnvey my high appreciation to Assistant Secretary Philip Gordon and US Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch for all their efforts in support of this process. A last minute glitch caused by the Turkish side in Zurich clearly demonstrated that we now need to focus on the subsequent phases of normalization of relations in order to keep the positive momentum and prevent developments that can potentially derail the process. Armenia is committed to respecting its obligations deriving from the Protocols. I truly believe that once ratified and properly implemented the documents will provide foundation for the relationship between Armenia and Turkey and could be beneficial for the entire region of South Caucasus. Madam Secretary, After more than a year of hard work the sides reached very important but at the same time still very fragile stage of the normalization process and your support is very important not to lose the historic chance for reconciliation between the two peoples. I look forward to continuing our close and fruitful cooperation in pursuit of strengthening regional stability and Armenia-US friendly partnership. Please accept, Madam Secretary, the assurances of my highest consideration. Sincerely, /s/ Edward Nalbandian H.E. Hillary R. Clinton Secretary of State Of the United States of America Washington, DC End text Yovanovitch