On this day in 1994 the official visit of Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan to the USA began.
The visit was exceptional for a few reasons. First, it was of official-working nature. All the peculiarities of the protocol were preserved, and the Armenian delegation stayed at Blair House (for the first and still last time in history), which is a residence for special guests of US presidents.
Ter-Petrosyan’s delegation was rather representative. The delegation included the First lady, the State Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, the Minister of Economics Eghiazaryan, the Minister of Finances Barkhudaryan, the President of CB Asatryan, President’s Press Secretary, Personal Doctor, etc.
The airplane of Armenian president lands at Dallas airport of Washington on August 7, at 15:25. Immediately after the arrival Armenian delegation heads to the Willard hotel, where they stay the first two nights. The next day in the morning, according to the protocol, the delegation of Armenian President visits the military cemetery of Arlington, lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and also at the Tomb of John Kennedy and Jacklin Kennedy.
The same day, in the evening, Levon Ter-Petrosyan receives the heads of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. On August 9, the main part of the delegation moves to Blair House and the official part of the visit starts. The same day Armenian President has working lunch with the US Vice-President Al Gore. Immediately after the lunch the Armenian delegation leaves for Pentagon to meet US Secretary of Defense William Perry.
At 17:00 in the Oval Office of the White House the meeting of the president of Armenia with US president Clinton starts.
In Clinton’s library a protocol schedule of the visit of Armenian President has been preserved and the person who was in response of the visit was the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Anthony Lake.
The protocol of the meeting looked like this
-5:30-7:30 Meeting with the President of the Republic of Armenia
-5:30 President Clinton greets President Ter-Petrosyan (in the presence of press)
-5:35-6:05 closed-door meeting of the Presidents in the Oval Office.
-6:15 President Clinton accompanies President Ter-Petrosyan to the Green Room.
-Presidents and first ladies get acquainted in the East Room.
-President Clinton’s speech.
-President Ter-Petrosyan’s speech.
-Presidents and first ladies go to the Blue Room.
After the reception president Clinton and first Lady Hillary Clinton see president Ter-Petrosyan and RA first lady Lyudmila Ter-Petrosyan off accompanying them to the North Lawn of the White House.
