February 18, 2009 - 20:13 AMT
U.S. new administration foreign policy unlikely to change much
President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have already announced priorities of the U.S. foreign policy, yet it's premature to speak of concrete moves, A U.S. Embassy official said in Yerevan.

"Relations with Iran may change if the Iranian leadership demonstrates political will," Stephen Banks, acting vice ambassador to Armenia, told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"It will be hard to build normal relations with Iran unless it reconsiders its nuclear program. But I would like to remind about President Obama's willingness to open dialogue with the Islamic Republic," he said.

The diplomat also remarked that the approaches of the new administration may not differ much from those of the old one.

"Each head of state has his own viewpoint he will follow in the tenure of the office," Mr. Banks said.