U.S.  Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Carpenter met with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Armenian Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan today in Yerevan.

Carpenter also met with U.S. military personnel in Armenia as part of a program to train Armenian non-commissioned officers as military doctors’ assistants.

The U.S. official also met with Armenian military personnel and officers at the 12th peacekeepers’ brigade who have participated in peacekeeping missions as part of a NSATO and United Nation’s program.

“The United States and Armenia have longstanding cooperation on the field of security based on the friendship of the American and Armenian peoples,” Carpenter noted, adding that given the security challenges facing Europe in the 21st century such cooperation is extremely important for regional peace and stability.