Yerevan/Mediamax/. During his working visit to USA, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan met in Washington with his U.S. counterpart Leon Panetta.

At the meeting the parties discussed issues of bilateral cooperation and regional security, Mediamax reports.

Leon Panetta welcomed reforms in Armenia’s defense sphere and reiterated U.S. readiness to support this process. He expressed gratitude for Armenia’s participation in NATO missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Seyran Ohanyan said that Armenia is determined to continue the development program of country’s Armed Forces and anticipates assistance on the part of all partners including the USA.

The Armenian Defense Minister also reiterated the readiness to continue Armenian peacekeepers’ participation in international operations.

In Washington, Seyran Ohanyan also held meetings with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) David Petraeus, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro.