On January 29th the Embassy of Armenia to the United States hosted a reception to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces. The event was attended by Ms. Laura Cooper, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, the Kansas National Guard delegation, headed by the Adjutant General of Kansas National Guard Major General Lee Tafanelli, Commander of the Kansas Army National Guard Brigadier General Anthony Mohatt, and Commander of the Kansas Air National Guard Brigadier General David Weishaar, as well as high-ranking military officers, Defense Attachés from the Embassies accredited in Washington DC, State Department Officials and Ambassadors.

In his opening remarks Ambassador Varuzhan Nersesyan touched upon the evolution of the Armenian Armed Forces and Armenia’s defense cooperation with the United States and other international partners. Defense Attaché of the Embassy of Armenia COL Arman Mkrtchyan spoke about Armenia’s participation in international peacekeeping operations and the international cooperation in military training, combat readiness and defense industry.

In her remarks DASD Laura Cooper acknowledged Armenia’s active involvement in the peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo and the 15-year partnership with the Kansas National Guard.

The official part of the ceremony was concluded by a concert and reception.