U.S. Defense Official Meets Top Officials in Armenia
Dr. Celeste Wallander, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Policy, met with President Serzh Sargsian, Defense Minister Seiran Ohanian, and Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsian and others today. They discussed security cooperation between the United States and Armenia.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary visited Armenia's peacekeeping brigade. "The United States values its partnership with the Republic of Armenia, which has made contributions to NATO and coalition efforts in Kosovo, Iraq, and soon in Afghanistan," said Dr. Wallander.
During the meetings, Dr. Wallander discussed U.S. support for the Minsk Group process and the Obama Administration's commitment to a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, emphasizing the guiding principles of non-use of force, territorial integrity, and equal rights and self-determination of peoples.
A longtime expert on Russian and Eurasian security issues, Dr. Wallander joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense last summer. She is on leave from her position as professor at American University.
Previously, she served as a visiting professor at Georgetown University (2006-2008), Director and Senior Fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (2001-2006), Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C. (2000-2001), and professor of Government at Harvard University (1989-2000).
