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ARMENIAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE VISITS KANSAS
U.S. European Command
http://www.eucom.mil/article/23282/armenian-minister-of-defense-visits-kansas
April 12 2012
Kansas
Seyran Ohanyan, the Minister of Defense for the Republic of Armenia,
visited the state of Kansas March 20. During the brief visit, Ohanyan
and select members of his delegation toured multiple Kansas National
Guard facilities, as well as the state capitol.
The adjutant general of Kansas, Maj. Gen. (KS) Lee Tafanelli, hosted
breakfast, where he and Ohanyan discussed the partnership growth
between Kansas and Armenia. Tafanelli noted that it is a great honor
to have the Minister of Defense visit Kansas.
"We value this partnership and this is a great opportunity to
solidify relationships that we have built over the past nine years,"
said Tafanelli.
Following briefings at Joint Force Headquarters, Ohanyan met with
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, who signed a proclamation reaffirming
the commitment to the relationship between the people of the state
of Kansas and the Republic of Armenia. Ohanyan also met with leaders
from both the Kansas House and Senate.
Brownback hosted a luncheon for the minister at the governor's
residence to honor the visit. Statewide elected officials, judicial
and legislative leadership, as well as the governor's cabinet,
attended. Ohanyan provided an overview of his country and took
questions from the guests. Later, gifts were exchanged to commemorate
the minister's inaugural visit to the state.
>From the governor's residence, the minister traveled to the 190th Air
Refueling Wing at Forbes Field, where a representative from Command
and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth discussed ongoing
professional military education initiatives with Armenia. Ohanyan
also toured the Expeditionary Medical System warehouse. Kansas is
one of three locations in the United States to store and maintain
mobile medical hospitals for domestic use in case of a large natural
or manmade disaster. Armenia purchased an EMEDS unit in 2005 and
Kansas has been working with Armenia since then to assist them in
developing their own regional medical response capability.
Kansas has been partnered with Armenia since 2003 to foster
mutually beneficial military-to- military, military-to-civilian and
civilian-to-civilian relationships. Prior to the partnership, Kansas
shared a special connection with Armenia. Former Kansas Senator Bob
Dole had his shoulder rebuilt by an Armenian doctor after World War
II, and in 1994, he was among one of the first U.S. Senators to visit
the country after they achieved independence from the Soviet Union.
The Republic of Armenia and the state of Kansas were partnered due
to other similarities as well. Both are landlocked and have a similar
agricultural climate, said Lt Col Brent Salmans, the director of the
Kansas State Partnership Program.
"The program is meant to be a bilateral relationship between Kansas
and Armenia," explained Salmans. "We start with the National Guard
and Ministry of Defense and then try to branch out to other parts
of society."
Members of the Kansas National Guard, as well as representatives
from law enforcement, education, medicine, agriculture and other
professions, have visited Armenia several times and representatives
from various Armenian military and civilian organizations have come
to Kansas for training, discussions and other events. Soldiers of
the Armenian Peacekeeping Brigade have deployed to serve alongside
soldiers from the United States and other coalition forces.
From: A. Papazian
U.S. European Command
http://www.eucom.mil/article/23282/armenian-minister-of-defense-visits-kansas
April 12 2012
Kansas
Seyran Ohanyan, the Minister of Defense for the Republic of Armenia,
visited the state of Kansas March 20. During the brief visit, Ohanyan
and select members of his delegation toured multiple Kansas National
Guard facilities, as well as the state capitol.
The adjutant general of Kansas, Maj. Gen. (KS) Lee Tafanelli, hosted
breakfast, where he and Ohanyan discussed the partnership growth
between Kansas and Armenia. Tafanelli noted that it is a great honor
to have the Minister of Defense visit Kansas.
"We value this partnership and this is a great opportunity to
solidify relationships that we have built over the past nine years,"
said Tafanelli.
Following briefings at Joint Force Headquarters, Ohanyan met with
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, who signed a proclamation reaffirming
the commitment to the relationship between the people of the state
of Kansas and the Republic of Armenia. Ohanyan also met with leaders
from both the Kansas House and Senate.
Brownback hosted a luncheon for the minister at the governor's
residence to honor the visit. Statewide elected officials, judicial
and legislative leadership, as well as the governor's cabinet,
attended. Ohanyan provided an overview of his country and took
questions from the guests. Later, gifts were exchanged to commemorate
the minister's inaugural visit to the state.
>From the governor's residence, the minister traveled to the 190th Air
Refueling Wing at Forbes Field, where a representative from Command
and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth discussed ongoing
professional military education initiatives with Armenia. Ohanyan
also toured the Expeditionary Medical System warehouse. Kansas is
one of three locations in the United States to store and maintain
mobile medical hospitals for domestic use in case of a large natural
or manmade disaster. Armenia purchased an EMEDS unit in 2005 and
Kansas has been working with Armenia since then to assist them in
developing their own regional medical response capability.
Kansas has been partnered with Armenia since 2003 to foster
mutually beneficial military-to- military, military-to-civilian and
civilian-to-civilian relationships. Prior to the partnership, Kansas
shared a special connection with Armenia. Former Kansas Senator Bob
Dole had his shoulder rebuilt by an Armenian doctor after World War
II, and in 1994, he was among one of the first U.S. Senators to visit
the country after they achieved independence from the Soviet Union.
The Republic of Armenia and the state of Kansas were partnered due
to other similarities as well. Both are landlocked and have a similar
agricultural climate, said Lt Col Brent Salmans, the director of the
Kansas State Partnership Program.
"The program is meant to be a bilateral relationship between Kansas
and Armenia," explained Salmans. "We start with the National Guard
and Ministry of Defense and then try to branch out to other parts
of society."
Members of the Kansas National Guard, as well as representatives
from law enforcement, education, medicine, agriculture and other
professions, have visited Armenia several times and representatives
from various Armenian military and civilian organizations have come
to Kansas for training, discussions and other events. Soldiers of
the Armenian Peacekeeping Brigade have deployed to serve alongside
soldiers from the United States and other coalition forces.
From: A. Papazian