ArmenPress
March 31 2004

US GENERAL THANKS ARMENIA FOR SENDING PEACEKEEPING PLATOON TO KOSOVO

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS: Major General Jeffrey Kohler, the
Director of Plans and Policy for US European Command, who arrived
Tuesday in Armenia for a two-day visit to discuss with Armenian
counterparts bilateral military issues, told reporters today after
wrapping up his visit that the goal of the visit was to meet with
Armenian defense minister to thank Armenian authorities for sending a
peacekeeping platoon to Kosovo, as well as for their readiness to
send another platoon to Iraq.
He then praised the Armenian platoon in Kosovo for contributing
heavily to diffusing the latest tension there.
General Kohler said his government was proud to have Armenia as a
friendly nation in the global fight against terrorism and its
willingness to help international efforts for restoration of post-war
Iraq. He said one of the objectives of the visit was to discuss
possibilities for enlarging military cooperation with Armenia.
Kohler also said that during his visit he discussed with defense
minister Serzh Sarkisian and chief of general staff, Colonel-General
Mikael Harutunian US-Armenia military cooperation for 2005. “I have
to admit that defense minister asked, no, ordered that I should pay
another visit to Yerevan to spend more time with my Armenian
counterparts,” he said.
Major general Jeffrey Kohler, UN Air Force, assumed this position
in March 2002. The general is a 1973 graduate of the US Air Force
Academy. He commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels and
served in staff assignments at the major command level and in NATO.
Prior to assuming his current position, the General served director
of operational plans, deputy chief of staff for Air and Space
Operations, headquarters, US Air Force, Washington, DC.