THE US APPRECIATES ARMENIA’S PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS

armradio.am
27.06.2011 15:55

On June 27 Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan received Celeste
Wallander, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia,
Eurasia and the Ukraine. Issues related to the cooperation between
the defense agencies of the two countries were discussed.

The parties stressed that the Armenian-American defense cooperation
was successfully developing both in bilateral format and within the
framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Attaching importance to Armenia’s participation in international
peacekeeping activities, Celeste Wallander highly appreciated the
mission of Armenian peacekeepers in Afghanistan, as well as our
country’s willingness to participate in the training of the security
forces in Afghanistan.

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense assured that the
United States would continue supporting Armenia’s efforts towards
implementation of reforms in the fields of peacekeeping, military
education and defense.

Seyran Ohanyan expressed gratitude to Celeste Wallander for the
expert assistance of the US to the process of Armenia’s Defense
Strategy review.

During the meeting the parties exchanged views on issues of regional
security, particularly the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The Armenian
Defense Minister noted that committed to the peaceful settlement of
the Karabakh issue, Armenia strictly observes the ceasefire regime
and is in no way interested in aggravating the situation at the line
of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

At the same time, Seyran Ohanyan expressed concern over the fact that
Azerbaijan fails to demonstrate willingness to maintain the ceasefire
regime, which results in numerous violations of the truce.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress