Armenia and India will hold security consultations

04 / 03 / 2011

Today the meetings of the delegation headed by Secretary of the National Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan continued in India.
After the private talk of the Secretary of the National Security Council of India Shiv Shankar Menon and Artur Baghdasaryan, extended talks were held, the possibilities of further deepening of the Armenian-Indian cooperation in the sphere of security were discussed.
An agreement has been reached to hold regular consultations on security issues between India and Armenia, which will give both sides an opportunity to bring their positions closer together in the face of security challenges.
The parties emphasized the importance of dialogue in ensuring regional and international security. Arthur Baghdasaryan invited Shiv Shanik Menon to Armenia, the invitation was accepted. The sides also discussed the issue of signing a memorandum on cooperation in the field of security between the Armenian and Indian Security Councils during their visit to Armenia, which will give a new impetus to the relations between the two countries and create an effective mechanism for discussing various issues of mutual interest.
During the meeting with the State Minister of Telecommunication and Information Technologies Sachin Pailott discussed issues of deepening cooperation in the field of high technologies, implementation of joint inter-university educational programs and other issues of mutual interest. During the meeting it was decided to implement the agreement reached in 2006 to open an Armenian-Indian center for information technologies in Yerevan. Artur Baghdasaryan expressed hope that this may serve as a basis for deepening further cooperation in this field.
The parties agreed to make efforts to get the center in this year. Sachin Pailott expressed his willingness to assist in this endeavor. An agreement was also reached to organize a conference in Yerevan in autumn with the participation of high-tech specialists, scientists, businessmen from the two countries. Artur Baghdasaryan also met with the Director General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Rajiv Kumar. An agreement was reached to deepen the Armenian-Indian economic cooperation and to organize an Armenian-Indian business forum in September this year.