Armenian defense minister, U.S. congressman discuss Armenia's intl commitments, defense strategy review in Yerevan
YEREVAN. Aug 15 (Interfax) - Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan met with U.S. Congressman Steve Chabot, paying a regional visit, on Monday to discuss the new international commitments of Armenia and the process of the defense strategy's review, the Armenian Defense Ministry press service told Interfax.
They also discussed formation of a professional sergeant corps and a number of other issues, the press service said.
The Armenian minister lauded the level of Armenian-U.S. relations in the field of defense and said that those relations were mainly focused on support to the development of the partnership potential of the Armenian army.
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills, who was accompanying the congressman, said that the meeting between the congressman and the Armenian military commanders was important due to the growing role of Armenia in peacekeeping missions of NATO and the United Nations, the report said.
The solid and reliable nature of this cooperation is proven by the recent visit of medical staff of the Kansas National Guard to Gavar and Razdan hospitals, the ambassador said.
In addition, the sides touched upon regional security issues and the Karabakh settlement process. The Armenian defense minister lauded the role of the OSCE Minsk Group cochairmen and underlined the importance of the fulfillment of the Vienna and St. Petersburg agreements on enlarging the number of observers and deploying inquiry mechanisms, which might play a preventive role and establish limits of responsibility.