BEVERLY HILLS – Prime Minister Armen Sarkissian will visit the United States next week in hopes of strengthening Armenia’s ties with the US and to clarify relations with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington–the Armenian Consulate-General of Los Angeles announced Monday.
Sarkissian will arrive at Washington’s Dulles International Airport Tuesday– Jan. 7–where he will hold a press conference. He will also meet with members of the US scientific community and be the guest of honor at the Armenian Embassy on the first day of his brief visit to the US.
On Wednesday–Jan. 8–Sarkissian will meet with Dr. Rita Rodriguez–director of Exlm Bank–and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) before a dinner engagement at the Armenian Assembly of America that evening.
A meeting with Frank Pallone–co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues–will highlight Sarkissian’s day on Thursday–Jan. 9. He will also meet with Deputy Secretary of State Strob Talbott–Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs–Sandy Berger–Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and Staff Director–Nancy Soderberg–and Vice President Al Gore.
That same evening–Ambassador Rouben Shugarian will host a dinner for members of the Clinton administration and the Prime Minister at the Armenian Embassy.
Sarkissian will participate in a discussion moderated by Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski on Friday–Jan. 10. Secretaries Robert Rubin of the Treasury Department and Michael Kantor of the Commerce Department are expected to attend.
The Prime Minister will be in Los Angeles for one day on Jan. 11–where he will hold meetings with community and business leaders–as well as the general public.
He will arrive in Boston the following day to visit the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University before returning to Washington on Jan. 13–where he will meet with representatives of the World Bank–including Executive Director Peter Stak–President James D. Woldfensohn and Vice-President Johaness Lynn.
Sarkissian will meet with IMF Director Michelle Damdessus–and will host an Armenian-American Community Leadership Dinner that same day.
On his final day in the United States–Sarkissian will attend a breakfast meeting with members of the Washington-area business community before presiding over the inauguration of the Armenian-American Business Council.