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On February 17, the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs Koryun Nahapetyan met with Richard Mills, U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia.

Welcoming the Ambassador Koryun Nahapetyan congratulated him on the occasion of his one-year diplomatic mission in Armenia. He has underlined that the Armenian-American relations develop in constructive way, with new quality and include numerous directions.

In terms of cooperation achievements in the sphere of defense the Committee Chairman pointed out the establishment of the Armenian peacekeeping brigade, the creation of the Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise, the U.S. advisory support to the strategic revision process of defense, the continuing cooperation within the framework of the International Military Education and Training program. He highly assessed the role of the USA in the creation and development of the peacekeeping capabilities of Armenia, evaluating the participation of Armenia in the peacekeeping activities and the provision of the international security.

Koryun Nahapetyan also highlighted the support of the American side in the strengthening of the border security system of Armenia. Ambassador Richard Mills has underlined that the partnership between the United States and Armenia on international security remains one of the most dynamic aspects of bilateral relationship.In his word, his country highly assesses Armenia's contributions to multilateral military and peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and possibly in Mali in the near future.

The Committee Chairman also touched upon the further procedure of the Constitutional reforms, underlining that during this transitional period consistent work will be done for establishing a new political and legal system. The possible cooperation between the NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs and the relevant Committees of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress was emphasized. The Ambassador expressed readiness to promote the strengthening of the parliamentary relations.

In the course of the meeting the sides referred to the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Koryun Nahapetyan has recorded that the RA authorities always show constructive approach in the negotiation process. “Our aspiration is to have everlasting peace in the region,” he underlined. The U.S. Ambassador welcomed the fact that the Armenian authorities are willing to support the creation of the investigation mechanisms of the borderline incidents. He has noted that the NK problem settlement is reserved to the OSCE Minsk Group, and the sides should be ready to negotiate.

During the meeting the sides talked about the creation of the new possibilities and perspectives in the region as a result of elimination of punitive measures towards Iran, and numerous refugees’ problems taking asylum in Armenia as a consequence of the Syrian crisis.