Back to Embassy Press Realeases PRESS RELEASE Embassy of the
Republic of Armenia New Armenian Military Attache Posted to Washington, DC Pentagon officials, foreign military attaches working in Washington, DC, and Armenian-American community leaders bid farewell to outgoing Armenian Defense Attache Haik Kotanjian and welcomed his replacement, Col. Armen Sargsian. The U.S.-Armenian military-political cooperation is becoming an important component of the complex relations between the two countries. In the foreign assistance budget for FY2002, U.S. Congress allocated some $4.3 million in military-related assistance to Armenia. In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, Armenia fully assisted the U.S.-led international campaign against the terrorist network in Afghanistan, by granting overflight and refueling rights, as well as extending other assistance. Welcoming the guests, including U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Eurasia Mira Baratta Ricardeo and other Pentagon officials, as well as military attaches of several countries, Armenian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Arman Kirakossian praised Col. Kotanjian for his role as the first military attaché of Armenia in the United States. The Ambassador noted that direct military-to-military tied grew in intensity and a number of important visits took place during Col. Kotanjian's tenure in Washington, DC: President Kocharian's visit to the NATO Summit in 1999, then-Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian's visit to the U.S., including a visit to Pentagon, and the first-ever visit by Defense Minister Serge Sargsian to the United States in 2000. Col. Kotanjian was
presented with farewell gifts - two military swords - on behalf of the Armenian-American
community. A prominent Armenian-American activist, Gourgen Assatourian, praised
Col Kotanjian's record and performance in his position as Armenia's military attaché
to the United States in his remarks, which were well received in the audience.
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