Armenian-U.S. Bilateral Defense Consultations Held in Kansas

An Armenian Ministry of Defense delegation headed by Deputy Defense Minister, Lt. Gen. Arthur Aghabekyan, visited Kansas on August 2-7, 2004, to participate in the third annual round of U.S.-Armenian Bilateral Defense Consultations. Armenian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Arman Kirakossian and Defense Attaché Colonel Armen Sargsyan joined the Armenian delegation for the consultations. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense James MacDougall headed the American delegation to the Bilateral Defense Consultations.

The bilateral discussions were held in Kansas because of an active State Partnership Program between the Kansas National Guard and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, commenced in 2003 as part of overall Armenian-U.S. military cooperation. The consultations addressed the current state of and perspectives for further military and military-political cooperation between Armenia and the United States, and other issues of bilateral interest.

During a visit to State Capitol in Topeka, the Armenian delegation members met with Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh and Secretary of Agriculture Adrian J. Polansky, and were later hosted by the Adjutant General of Kansas National Guard, Maj. Gen. Tod M Bunting in his headquarters at State Defense Building. The Armenian delegation visited Ft. Riley and several military installations of U.S. Armed Forces and the Kansas National Guard, as well as several industrial and national landmarks, including the Harley Davidson factory, the Eisenhower Presidential Center in Abilene, KS, and the Truman Presidential Museum and Library in Independence, MO.

A special meeting with the representatives of Kansas’s tiny Armenian-American community, held in Kansas City, KS, was an opportunity to present Armenia’s progress at home and in strengthening U.S.-Armenian bilateral relations.