First time in Armenia Diplomatic representations to have annual action plan

22 / 12 / 2009

At the National Security Council meeting President Serzh Sargsyan introduced the issues discussed at the non-official summit in Kazakhstan. At a press-conference after the meeting, NSC Secretary Artur Baghdasaryan said the importance of re-equipping CSTO rapid reaction forces with modern technologies had again been emphasized at the meeting, and the presidents of participating countries expressed willingness to finalize the implementation of this decision.

“The first collective military exercises have already been conducted in Kazakhstan. This fact is of military-political importance for Armenia for the CSTO rapid reaction forces can be used in case of military aggression against any of the CSTO member state. We believe that the establishment of CSTO rapid reaction forces during Armenia’s presidency was of great significance.”

The President of the Republic noted that the 10 billion dollar stability fund established under EurAzES would help to enhance political, economic cooperation in the Eurasia region and contribute to the implementation of different investment projects. 10 percent of the investments are already made; 850 million dollar is in the fund which will be directed to the implementation of anti-crisis activities as well as further deepening of cooperation under the CSTO.

In addition, the President of the Republic introduced the agreements reached in the framework of the summit between CSTO member states, which are aimed at deepening economic and military-technical cooperation.

According to Artur Baghdasaryan at the NSC meeting reference was made to Armenia’s foreign policy issues, notably 4 key documents outlining basic directions of the activities of Armenian diplomatic representations and consulates were discussed and approved - the procedure of planning the activities of Armenian diplomatic representations and consulates. According to this procedure diplomatic representations and consulates will have an annual plan and a three-year’ midterm plan for the first time in Armenia. “The next document covered defining, assessment and control procedures of basic standards of the activities of diplomatic representations and consulates. After the NSC approval the documents will be submitted to the President of the Republic in accordance with the procedure to ratify with a respective legal act. We will, for the first time, have a clear document determining the requirements for diplomatic representations and consulates, they will have a distinct annual program, and each year our external policy priorities and the work done by external political agencies will be presented.”

Artur Baghdasaryan summarized the activities of the National Security Council for 2009. The NSC convened 8 sittings during one year and touched upon a number of important issues related to Armenia’s internal and external security, political and socio-economic life, notably the implementation of defence strategic reforms in Armenia, registration of pre-conscription and conscription age persons and reserves, significant improvements in the process of preparation and implementation of conscription, drafting of the construction program for the RA new nuclear energy bloc which is of strategic importance for Armenia, Armenia-Iran, Armenia-Turkey, Armenia-Russia current relations and development trends, the decision on the establishment of CSTO rapid reaction forces and the implementation process, Armenia-CSTO, Armenia-European Union programs and their implementation process. 5 interagency commissions and around 40 working groups are formed within the National Security Council that work in the above-motioned directions.

Artur Baghdasaryan highlighted also the importance of the formation of the National Security Council staff and noted that Armenia was the only post-Soviet country that did not have NSC staff. Already established staff administers the implementation of the national security strategy and of all the decisions adopted at the NSC sittings.