YEREVAN (A.W.) —U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern bid farewell this month to Armenia after more than three years of service. Heffern first arrived in Yerevan with his wife Libby in October 2011.
Ambassador Heffern has worked to help set the groundwork for improving the business climate in Armenia and opening up the electoral process. He has said that Armenia’s future is a “knowledge-based economy.”
In a final press conference, Heffern said that there is no military solution to the Karabagh conflict, reported PanArmenian. He said the U.S. was ready to help resolve the conflict and to open borders, and that it would continue to work towards building democracy and strengthening human rights in Armenia. He noted that the lack of progress in Armenia-Turkey reconciliation was disappointing, but the U.S. would continue to support reconciliation. He also added that the U.S. viewed Azerbaijan as an important partner, especially in the energy sector and the development of relations with Iran.
The Armenian National Committee has been critical of U.S. foreign policy concerning Nagorno-Karabagh during the ambassador’s term, specifically the policy of placing equal responsibility on both Armenia and Azerbaijan, when one side is clearly the aggressor.
Keri Kaligian
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Goodbye, Amb. Heffern.
Too bad you did not have the guts, unlike former Amb. John Evans, to acknowledge the Armenian genocide during your tenure.
But we understand. We know that you and the others in the U.S. State Department, plus Pres. Obama and Samantha Power, are paranoid of Turkey and think it’s more powerful than the U.S.
Amb. Heffern Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May Christ give you wisdom and happiness!
Frist, the Ambassador is not there to pick scabs regarding Armenian genocide.Second, the United States military has been very busy in the middle east, Saddam Hussein, Kadafi, Osama bin Laden just to name a few campaigns.And third,Turnkey would be left in ashes if the entire military might of the U.S.came to wage war.
Joseph Louis Garey
Armenian Noble Duke (Diaspora)
I like ambassador Heffern, and It would be nice if he would stay in Yerevan!
What did you like about him, Joanna? I met him twice and found him very corny. He also did not seem have any interest in Armenian or Middle Eastern history. He was a front man for Victoria Nuland, nothing more.
Thank you Mr. Ambassador and good luck you will be missed.