ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND US DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ASSESS COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IN DEFENSE SPHERE EFFECTIVE

ARMENPRESS
Dec 3, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
received today US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Celeste
Wallander.

Presidential Press Office told Armenpress that welcoming the guest,
President Sargsyan said that Armenian-US relations are warm and
friendly and Armenia is interested in their further deepening.

"Armenia highly assesses the assistance of the United States provided
since the independence of our country. We also highly assess the
efforts of the United States directed toward establishment of stability
and peace in our region," the president said.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense said that during the visit
she aims at better understanding of Armenia’s priorities in defense
sphere. Noting that her country highly assesses Armenia’s participation
in different peacekeeping missions, she said that today they visited
the peacekeeping brigade of Armenian Armed Forces and were impressed
with the abilities of the Armenian peacekeepers.

President Sargsyan highlighted Armenia’s participation in international
peacekeeping activity and noted that Armenia must and is able to have
its contribution to the consolidation of international security.

The president and the US official assessed the cooperation and programs
between the two countries in the defense sphere as effective and
noted that Armenia has used its opportunities at its best.

The interlocutors also exchanged thoughts over regional developments
and issues.