President Khachaturyan Awards Outgoing U.S. Ambassador with Order of Friendship

YEREVAN — President of the Republic of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Armenia Kristina Kvien on the occasion of the completion of her diplomatic mission.

Welcoming the ambassador, President Khachaturyan thanked her for her work and cooperation, praising the activities carried out over the past three years. He noted that Ambassador Kvien served in Armenia during a particularly difficult period and shared in the challenges faced by the country. The president also highlighted the tangible results achieved, especially over the past two years, according to the Presidential Office.

President Khachaturyan emphasized the latest stage in the development of Armenian-American relations, underscoring the formation of a strategic partnership. He noted that the signing of the Strategic Partnership Charter had seemed unlikely to many as recently as last year, but developments progressed faster than expected, resulting in the August 8 document and the subsequent January 13 agreement. The president added that the path toward achieving peace in the region, with the support of the United States, is already becoming visible.

Expressing hope that peace would be lasting, President Khachaturyan said the presence and support of the United States would also contribute to the advancement of Armenia’s economic development.

For her part, Ambassador Kvien expressed gratitude for the warm reception and close cooperation, noting that significant progress had been made thanks to the consistent work of the president and the government. She stated that Armenia currently has a strong opportunity to move forward with the agreements reached on August 8, strengthen its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and build a stable and peaceful future in the region.

Ambassador Kvien added that after completing her diplomatic mission, she would continue to remain a friend of Armenia.

President Khachaturyan wished Ambassador Kvien success in her future endeavors.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Khachaturyan awarded Kristina Kvien the Order of Friendship for her significant contribution to deepening cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the United States, as well as for strengthening Armenian-American relations.

Ambassador Kvien concludes her tenure in Armenia after three years marked by “strengthened ties and forward-looking cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Armenia,” the U.S. Embassy said in a press release on Friday.

“During this period, bilateral relations reached important milestones—establishing a strategic partnership, advancing business ties in technology, energy, and industry, and implementing the agreements of the August 8 Washington Peace Summit, including the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. Under Ambassador Kvien’s leadership, the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan advanced programs and partnerships that reflect the shared vision of our two nations. With gratitude to Armenia and its people, Ambassador Kvien reflects on these three meaningful years and looks ahead to continued partnership, progress, and peace,” the embassy said.