Today the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the OSCE office in Yerevan organized a reception devoted to Armenia’s membership to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Gagik Beglaryan, the RA Minister of Transport and Communications, 25 Ambassadors of the OSCE Permanent Council, Ambassadors accredited in Yerevan, MPs of the Parliament and representatives of the OSCE in Yerevan and other international organizations attended the reception, as well.

In his speech, Minister Nalbandian said, “Two decades ago in 1992, shortly after its independence, Armenia became a participant of the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe. From the day one we got actively involved, participated to countless meetings at different level and contributed to the negotiation and adoption of all major documents and decisions. I would not reveal a secret if I say that this organization is of particular importance to us also because the Nagorno-Karabagh issue is being mediated by OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

The first ever comprehensive approach, when along the military-political issues also the economic and human rights became key aspects of security, paved the way to our continuous efforts to create a value-based architecture of security. With its broad membership and an area that stretches from Vancouver to Vladivostok we represent a very diverse heritage of societies and cultures, but we are united in our common quest for security through cooperation.

And a meaningful security system can be achieved only through dialogue, open discussion, confidence building and laborious efforts to further consolidate democratic institutions of our societies. The effectiveness of the Organization, especially considering the principle of consensus on which it acts, depends on the ability and readiness to come to compromise and reach peaceful solutions based on mutual respect and trust. We have created very good instruments, but very often we lack the required political will to make use of them. Whatever it takes we need to generate that will.

Armenia is strongly committed to the realization of the vision of a truly “free, democratic, common and indivisible Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community” as envisaged at the Astana Summit, which will minimize the risks and challenges, old and new, and make our lives easy. We are supportive of the Irish chairmanship’s “Helsinki+40” initiative and hope that it will guide us to arrive at a positive result.
I will not venture to cover the whole scope of our cooperation with the OSCE throughout those two decades. But let me assure you that our engagement has been steadily incremental, expanding both the spheres and the depth of cooperation. And the most important is that it delivers concrete results.

We appreciate the support provided to Armenia in implementation of rather vast reform agenda. I would like to especially commend the productive cooperation between the Government of Armenia and the OSCE Office in Yerevan in all three dimensions, in particular realization of joint projects in the sphere of protection of human rights, enhancement of democratic control of the Armed Forces, Police reforms, combating trafficking and corruption, ensuring fair and free electoral processes, legal assistance. I can continue on and on. Our approach is to design, build, operate and move forward.

I think you would agree that in the recent 20 years Armenia has had a long way, and as a result we have a country where democracy, human rights and rule of law have already laid solid ground. We still have a lot to do and in this regard we will be counting on the OSCE as well.”

Andrey Sorokin, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan and Ambassador Eoin O'Leary, the Chairman of the OSCE Permanent Council delivered welcoming speeches at the reception, as well.

At the reception the stamp redemption ceremony devoted to the 20th anniversary of Armenia's membership to the OSCE took place, too.