YEREVAN.- Armenia and the U.S. plan to establish cooperation in defense industry, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan told reporters on Monday.

Press conference followed the meeting between Ohanyan and Ray Mabus, U.S. Secretary of Navy who is on a visit to Yerevan.

Ohanyan said defense industry is a new direction of cooperation between the states. The Minister stressed that Armenia, as a post-Soviet state, is mainly equipped with Soviet arms but there are opportunities for introducing new standards.

“We can realize experience exchange, especially in terms of using small arms and optics,” he said.

Mutual visits are the proof of high level cooperation in defense sector Ohanyan said, adding that cooperation is developing in two directions -- peacekeeping activities and defense reforms.

Armenian Minister recalled that nearly 200 peacekeepers were trained in Romania and Germany.

“Cooperation in this direction will continue in 2013,” he assured. Ohanyan said a wide range of issues on regional stability and security were discussed during the meeting.

“We discussed issues on Afghanistan. We are committed to providing security,” Ohanyan concluded.