NSC Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan received Adam Koberatsky

14 / 09 / 2011

Secretary of the National Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan received today the Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center Adam Koberatsky. Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan was also present at the meeting. Issues related to the OSCE-Armenia cooperation, reforms in the field of border security in Armenia, as well as the process of negotiations over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement were discussed during the meeting. Both sides underscored that the OSCE-Armenia cooperation in the field of security is developing effectively. In this context, the areas of cyber-security, anti-terrorism and human trafficking have been identified, where concepts and strategies have been developed by relevant interdepartmental committees with the involvement of OSCE experts. Arthur Baghdasaryan presented the process of implementation of the Integrated Border Management Program under the auspices of the EU funded and implemented partner UNDP. The project has already completed the design and assessment of the reform of the three northern border checkpoints in Armenia, with an international call for tenders to be announced in the near future, with construction expected to begin in the first quarter of 2012. Adam Koberatsky noted that the OSCE attaches great importance to the existence of borders in line with modern European standards in the context of the fight against transfrontier crime. He also informed that the OSCE is also ready to be further involved in the reform process in the form of advisory support, as the OSCE is the largest international body of consultants on border issues. During the discussion on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Artur Baghdasaryan emphasized that the OSCE Minsk Group format is the most effective one, as it has been involved in the process for many years, possessing all the nuances and details of the conflict, and influential forces both in the region and around the world. The co-chairing countries are deeply interested in a swift and just resolution of the problem. Artur Baghdasaryan also expressed his concern over the fact that, contrary to the repeatedly publicly stated position of the Republic of Armenia, the negotiating process continues to be hampered by Azerbaijan's changing attitude, conflicting attitudes and even militant hatred towards its neighbor.