During a hearing today of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Nominee Kristina Kvien said she will continue to advance U.S. interests in Armenia if confirmed for the post.

"I pledge to work with you to strengthen Armenian's democracy, security, and economy. I would also continue the efforts of my predecessor [Ambassador Lynne Tracy] to support Armenia's anti-corruption initiatives, civil society, independent media, business development, regional integration, and efforts to counter malign influence," said Kvien, adding she would also work with Armenians to help "foster an impartial, independent judiciary and to safeguard respect for freedom of expression."

Kvien said she grew up in Fresno, California and that she learned from her teachers and friends of Armenian heritage about the Armenian Genocide, adding she would do all in her power to remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide, and to support a peaceful future for Armenians and encourage ongoing normalization discussions between Armenia and Turkey.

When asked by Committee Chairman Senator Bob Menendez if she would support the documentation of recent alleged atrocities by Azerbaijan committed against Armenians, including the shooting unarmed Armenians, executing Armenian soldiers, and mutilating a female Armenian soldier, Kvien said she had seen the "horrific videos," and will "do her best to help with any requests the Armenians have to document the videos." 

Menendez then asked Kvien if she would act as ambassador to proactively determine whether these mutilations and executions are true and to be able to tell the State Department, and his committee.

“Can I depend upon you to do that?" Menendez aske Kvien.

She answered that "accountability for crimes of this nature are very important" to her, and she will be sure there is accountability.

Kvien also confirmed that she would commit to a needs assessment regarding the 100,000 Armenians displaced during the 2020 Artsakh war and the current needs of the people who still reside in the region.

(Kvien, who joined the Foreign Service in 1992, most recently served at the Embassy of the United States, Paris, prior to her posting to the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv in May 2019.)