Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
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MEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2007
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: kpanosyan@aaainc.org

RE: Assembly Country Director Meets with Minister of Defense of Armenia

Yerevan, Armenia – On July 4, Armenian Assembly Country Director Arpi
Vartanian met with Armenia’s Minister of Defense Michael Haroutounyan
to discuss U.S.-Armenia bilateral relations.

During their meeting, Vartanian and Haroutounyan discussed the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, regional relations and developments, U.S. economic
and military assistance to Armenia, especially the importance of
maintaining military parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and other
issues of concern. The Assembly has supported maintaining military
parity, and in March, testified before the House Subcommittee on
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, that such a balance
is critical in the face of Azerbaijan’s ongoing war rhetoric. Last
month, the House of Representatives voted to maintain military parity
between Armenia and Azerbaijan at $3.5 million each and provide $68
million in U.S. economic aid for Armenia for Fiscal Year 2008.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues.  It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

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