Armenia’s President addresses UN Summit on Peacekeeping Operations

PanARMENIAN.Net - President Serzh Sargsyan delivered an address at the New York-hosted UN Summit on Peacekeeping Operations on Monday, September 28.

Sargsyan thanked U.S. President Barack Obama for the initiative, which is of pivotal importance from the international security perspective.

Despite the immense efforts directed by the international community towards the prevention of conflicts and their peaceful resolution, peace and security remain fragile and vulnerable, he said.

“I am glad to note that despite the present tensions on our borders, Armenia’s commitment to international peacekeeping has gradually expanded. Armenia is already an active contributor to the international peace and security, having gained considerable experience during the previous decade,” Sargsyan said.

As the President noted, Armenian peacekeepers have joined operations in Kosovo and Iraq since 2004, have taken part in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan since 2010, participating in Resolute Support Mission since 2015. “We have declared on numerous occasions that we will stick by our international partners until the mission is accomplished,” President Sargsyan noted.

“Having expanded our peacekeeping mission last year, we are now a part of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. Moreover, Armenia announced its participation in the MINUSMA peacekeeping mission in Mali this July. And, most recently, we have undertaken new commitments to develop appropriate skills for our future participation in the UN peacekeeping operations such as a Role II medical hospital and training of associated personnel, or EOD/C-IED (Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Counter-Improvised Explosive Device) soldiers,” Sargsyan said.

According to the Armenian leader, the U.S., Greece, Germany, NATO structures and other states have played an important role in the establishment and development of the Armenian peacekeeping capabilities.

“Preservation of international peace and security is a key responsibility for all, and peacekeeping is a major conduit to achieve that objective. Today we still need to take additional collective measures for its further consolidation. It is obvious that a peaceful and safe world may be secured solely by comprehensive, joint and careful measures,” the President concluded.