On November 7, the opening ceremony of the "Accountable, Effective and Gender-Sensitive Institutional Frameworks in the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs Police and Rescue Service" project took place, in which Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan participated.
Also participating were Ambassador Vasilis Maragos, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia; Natia Natsvlishvili, Permanent Representative of the UNDP to Armenia; Sean De Kalu, Deputy Director of the Operational Service of the OSCE Secretariat's Conflict Prevention Center; and representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other departments.
Expressing gratitude to international partners for the practical cooperation, the Minister of Internal Affairs emphasized that the launch of the project testifies to the assessment of bilateral efforts and the positive results of the previous initiative.
According to Minister Sargsyan, the project will also have a significant contribution in the context of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization with the European Union.
Arpine Sargsyan emphasized that the Program includes not only the continuation of police reforms but also the development of the rescue service and disaster risk management sectors, ensuring their proportional inclusion. The acquisition of specialized equipment to meet the Rescue Service's needs, the establishment and continuous development of the Institute of First Responders to disasters, ensuring their necessary training, and the introduction of a tool used in the EU with 3D modeling for real-time disaster risk prediction and management were also emphasized.
According to Arpine Sargsyan, landmark results have been achieved within the framework of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' systemic reforms, and the successful progress of the reform path is evidenced by the fact that new layers are being revealed that were previously invisible.
The Minister emphasized that the Program focuses primarily on the development of the capabilities of criminal and community police. From the perspective of crime prevention, she emphasizes the importance of operational work methodologies based on intelligence, as well as the implementation of pro-community services and the provision of various communication tools for the community.
Among the project's target areas, Arpine Sargsyan also emphasized the importance of providing psychological support to employees, which will enable them to continue implementing the tasks set before them with a healthy psychological outlook.
"I want to reaffirm the commitment of the Government of the Republic of Armenia to continue the reforms of the Ministry of Internal Affairs system, both institutionally and practically, as well as in the direction of developing capacities and improving skills, because we are far from the idea that the investment of any institution is already sufficient for us to record that this or that reform has been implemented; on the contrary, this can be considered the starting point of a new process," the Minister of Internal Affairs noted.
In her speech, the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Vasilis Maragos, emphasized the importance of the joint extensive work and citizen-centered approaches, noting that they contribute to the effective implementation of reforms and the prioritization of needs.
"I express my gratitude to the Minister of Internal Affairs and the entire team of the Ministry for their dedication and responsiveness to the needs of our partners. We are ready to support the effective implementation of the Program, applying the best European experience and the necessary tools," noted Vasilis Maragos.
UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, Natia Natsvlishvili, discussed the joint ambitions, work in targeted areas, and effective partnerships. "The name of the program is not accidental: it symbolizes a protective shield, as are the goals that underlie the program: the creation of accountable and sustainable institutions to protect human rights and ensure the rule of law, and capacity building."
Sean De Kalu, Deputy Director of the Operational Service of the OSCE Secretariat's Conflict Prevention Center, highly appreciated the constructive approaches of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to him, "The program is of particular importance, as it will ensure continuous and systematic implementation of reforms, building on the results of the previous program."
The event participants summarized the work carried out in the previous stages of the reforms and presented the approaches adopted in the main directions of the Program.
Information on the new priorities and ongoing work of the Police and Rescue Service reforms was shared by Vahe Yenokyan, Acting Head of the Strategic Planning, Policy Development and Monitoring Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Meruzhan Khachatryan, Deputy Head.
David Harutyunyan, Coordinator of the Police, Security and Public Administration Programs, and Dina Ananyan, National Coordinator of the OSCE Program in Armenia, presented the Program's vision, main strategic directions, and expected actions.
The project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme and the OSCE, with co-financing from the European Union. The investment of approximately €5 million will be directed towards ensuring effective and accountable structures in the Police and Rescue Service in line with European and international standards, as well as EU best practices.
