WASHINGTON (RFE/RL)—Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta met with Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian at the Pentagon for talks highlighting growing military ties between the United States and Armenia.
In a statement, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said the leaders discussed late on Friday regional security issues and bilateral defense cooperation, including “Armenia’s efforts on defense reform and U.S. willingness to support enhanced training of the Armenian military.”
Panetta also expressed appreciation for Yerevan’s “strong contributions” to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and to the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo. No further details of the talks were reported by the Pentagon.
The Armenian Defense Ministry did not immediately issue any statements on Ohanian’s meeting with the U.S. defense chief.
Ohanian began his visit to the United States on Wednesday with a trip to the state of Kansas. He met with Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and other state officials to discuss a nearly decade-long cooperation between the Kansas National Guard and Armenia’s Armed Forces and law-enforcement agencies.
The visit underscored Armenia’s increased defense cooperation with the U.S. within both bilateral and NATO frameworks. The U.S. and Armenian militaries are expected to hold next month first-ever joint exercises aimed at improving the interoperability of their forces deployed in Afghanistan. A top official from the U.S. European Command discussed preparations for the exercises with Ohanian during a visit to Yerevan last month.
Plans for the landmark drills were first made public following Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan’s July 2011 visit to Washington. Tonoyan held what official Yerevan described as “defense consultations” with U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Alexander Vershbow and other senior Pentagon officials.
Tonoyan visited Washington shortly after Armenia almost tripled its participation in NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for Afghanistan, a move praised by U.S. officials. It currently has about 130 troops on the ground.
Ohanyan must be at the front lines not elsewhere. Every one knows what Armenia an Armenians want. These meeting are fruitless, meaningless and waste of time. Stop this whole joke and fiascos.
Recognize and reaffirm THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE. RECOGNIZE THE INDEPENDENCE OF ARTSAKH. RECOGNIZE THE JUST CAUSE OF THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE AND THE ARMENIAN NATION.
Stop fooling the Armenians with your lolly pops.
War hero Colonel General DM Ohanyan WAS at the front lines during the war.
He was one of the commanders during the liberation of Shushi.
He lost a leg in battle.
Where were you during the war, Areg ?
Who are you to tell a war hero to go to the front lines – safely sitting in front of a computer.
Why don’t you go to the front lines of Artsakh – Mr. Minassyan ?