Armenia: Foreign Minister Sasy U.S. Taking More Active Role



Yerevan, 14 February 1997 (RFE/RL) - Armenia's Foreign Minister said today that the United States is assuming a more active role in the Caucasian and Caspian Sea regions.

Our correspondent reports that Alexandre Arzoumanian made the comment at a Yerevan news conference. Arzoumanian stressed that the United States is particularly involved in a search for a peaceful solution to the conflict over Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.

A ceasefire remains in place in the mostly ethnic-Armenian enclave, but a final settlement has proved elusive.

Arzoumanina said he will visit the United States on February 26 and 27 to meet U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright. He said talks will include the development of Caspain Sea oil reserves.