Yerevan /Mediamax/. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern stated that relations with Armenia in a number fields have long turned from donor/recipient into partner relations.

The U.S. Ambassador said this at the event dedicated to the 10th anniversary of cooperation between Armenian Armed Forces and Kansas National Guard within Armenia-Kansas National Guard Partnership, Mediamax reports.

The Ambassador particularly pointed out the Armenian peacekeepers' contribution in the international stability and security operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq a few years ago as well as in responding to emergency situations and commercial-economic ties.

To take part in the event devoted to the 10th anniversary of the cooperation between Armenian Armed Forces and Kansas National Guard, the delegation headed by Commander of the National Guard of Kansas, Adjutant General, Major General Lee Tafanelli and Vice Governor of the state of Kansas Jeff Keller was in Armenia on a working visit on December 2-8.

During the meeting, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan met with the Kansas delegation. The sides hailed the level of Armenian Defense Ministry's cooperation with Kansas National Guard and Armenian Armed Forces. The Armed Forces and Kansas National Guard have extensively cooperated in the fields of demining, professional sergeant staff formation, military medicine, military justice and others for around 10 years.

During the visit, the Kansas delegation met with the peacekeeping brigade of the Armenian Armed Forces, "Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise" NGO and peacekeeping engineer detachment. On December 7, the delegation will take part in the events devoted to the Spitak earthquake in Gyumri and Spitak.