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On February 3, the Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security Andranik Kocharyan met with the U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the RA Lynne Tracy.

According to the Ambassador, topics of mutual interest have increased preparing a ground for more effective discussions.

Distinguishing the main priorities of the Committee’s activity Andranik Kocharyan underlined the main items on which the RA Government and the National Assembly are most interested.

Touching upon the 40% increase of the financial assistance to Armenia by the U.S. in 2019, the Committee Chairman noted that part of those measures would be directed to the fight against corruption, protection of human rights and solution of other important issues. In this context, he highlighted the strengthening of building integrity in the Armed Forces and the protection of the servicemen’s rights.

Referring to the expertise capabilities of the Committee Andranik Kocharyan considered the training programs and exchange of experience with the U.S. Congress specialists useful.

Lynn Tracy highly assessed Armenia's contribution to the international peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Lebanon.

Andranik Kocharyan has noted that Armenia pursues a balanced foreign policy, being at the same time a member of the CSTO and an associate member of NATO, and is interested in the successful experience on the path of the RA Armed Forces reform.

The sides also discussed the issues of providing high quality military education, agreeing that the investment of high intellectual capabilities and the acquisition of modern military equipment are equally important on the threshold of the Armed Forces reforms.

Speaking about the activities of the Investigative Committee Studying the Circumstances of Military Actions in April 2016, Ambassador Tracey inquired whether the Committee had drawn certain conclusions.

Andranik Kocharyan noted that the Committee had been working for 6 months, had studied large-scale documents, listened to a number of former and current army officials. In the coming months, the Committee would summarize its work and present its conclusion in June. Part of it will be made public, and the part not in public domain will remain secret.

The parties expressed readiness for cooperation.