Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan received today the delegation headed by the Commanding general, United States Army Europe Lieutenant General Frederick Ben Hodges and the U.S. Adjutant General of Kansas Lee Tafanelli.

The meeting, attended by the U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills, included discussion on issues related to cooperation between Armenian Armed Forces, United States Army Europe and the State of Kansas.

Seyran Ohanyan attached importance to the number of projects realized in the framework of cooperation, particularly joint trainings aimed at increasing the level of interoperability, qualification of professional sergeant staff, training of special subdivisions - medical and in detecting and neutralizing makeshift explosives - that Armenia holds in support of international peacekeeping missions, etc.

Ben Hodges noted that he was happy to be in Yerevan and participate in the discussions on expansion of cooperation, especially given the fact that he had an opportunity earlier this year to see the impressive work that the medical staff of the Armenian Armed Forces did at Saber Junction combat training exercise at the U.S. Army combat training center in Hohenfels, Germany.

The meeting resulted in an agreement to develop cooperation between the United Stated Army Europe, Kansas Army National Guard and Armenia both in bilateral format and with regional partners in spheres such as peacekeeping activity and NATO’s Operational Capabilities Concept.

Touching upon the recent developments of the NK issue, the American side expressed concerns over the losses suffered by the sides during the military actions and noted that it remains committed to the peaceful settlement of the conflict through the OSCE Minsk Group process.