Fourth U.S – Armenia Defense Consultations Held in Yerevan

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| 18:52:07 | 29-09-2005 | Politics |

FOURTH U.S.-ARMENIA DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS HELD IN YEREVAN

On September 28-29, the fourth annual U.S.-Armenia Bilateral Defense
Consultations were held in Yerevan, Armenia. As part of the consultations, a
U.S. delegation led by Mr. Scott Schless, Principal Director for Eurasia in
the Office of the Secretary of Defense, met with Armenian Ministry of
Defense officials. The Armenian delegation was led by General-Major Artur
Aghabekyan, Deputy Minister of Defense. Both Defense Minister of the
Republic of Armenia Serge Sargsyan and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans
also attended the consultations.

The purpose of these consultations was to review the previous year’s
bilateral defense cooperation and to agree to a plan for 2006 bilateral
defense cooperation. A broad range of themes was discussed by the parties,
including national security, defense reform, peacekeeping operations,
military training, military education, and the military’s role in disaster
response. During the consultations, Ambassador Evans noted the broadening
and deepening of the U.S.-Armenia defense relationship.

The U.S.-Armenia Bilateral Defense consultations, which were held in the
U.S. state of Kansas last year, alternate between being held at a U.S.
location one year, and an Armenian location the next.