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UK Ambassadors Promise Armenian People ‘Fruits of their Joint Labor’

The most important issue on Armenia in 2012 for the UK is the holding of free and fair elections, said Katherine Leach, the newly appointed UK ambassador to Armenia, a position she shares with her husband, Jonathan Aves, speaking to journalists in Yerevan today.

“We highly praise and pin hopes on the president’s statement that he will guarantee the holding of fair elections. We also welcome the fact that the EU and the OSCE will be taking great strides in this direction,” she said, emphasizing that the elections are an important period for Armenia in taking steps toward democracy and the Armenian people should acknowledge this responsibility.

The ambassador, commenting on the joint appointment, said: “Only one British publication reacted negatively to our appointment, to which the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs generally related badly. However, the Armenian people will soon experience the fruits of our joint labor. Two brains are better than one.”

The ambassador also touched upon British Prime Minister David Cameron’s statement at the PACE winter session that the UK will back and is in favor of Turkey’s EU accession. Ambassador Leach pointed out, as Turkey and Armenia are pivotal for the UK, they will do everything to normalize relations between the two countries.

Summarizing the British Council’s 10 years in Armenia, the ambassador highly praised the Council’s work, particularly the strengthening of cultural ties between not only the UK and Armenia, but also the EU and Armenia.

The ambassador recalled that during this time, the British Council implemented many educational and cultural programs, including the British Film Festival in Armenia, as well as organizing the Na/Ne Annual Media Ward and the Skills for Employability training for about 100 officials.