President attended the ceremony of opening of the Armenian-Russian Humanitarian Response Center

 President Serzh Sargsyan today conducted a working visit to Kotayk marz, where he attended the ceremony of the opening of the Armenian-Russian Humanitarian Response Center.

The opening was made by the Minister of Emergency Situation of Armenia Armen Eritsian and the Minister of RF on Civil Defense, Emergency Situations and Elimination of the Consequences of Natural Disasters Vladimir Puchkov, who has arrived to Armenia for this particular purpose.

Accompanied by the Ministers of Emergency Situations of the two countries, Minister of Defense of Armenia Seiran Ohanian and other officials present at the ceremony, President Serzh Sargsyan toured the newly opened Center, visited the control center, encampment for the rescue workers, and familiarized with the working conditions of the center.

The main objective of the Center is the development and strengthening of the possibilities and mechanisms aimed at the prevention of emergency situations and elimination of their consequences. It is also created to enhance regional cooperation, to amplify the protection for the population and raise the level of operative response to the emergency situations in the region. The creation of the Center is conditioned not only by the agreement between the Governments of RA and RF on cooperation in the prevention and elimination of the consequences of the industrial accidents and natural disasters but also is in line with the CSTO program on the creation of the joint rapid response forces and with the UN international strategy on minimizing natural disaster risks. It is also called to develop joint response capabilities of the CSTO member states in emergency situations.

After the opening ceremony, the Ministers of Emergency Situations of RA and RF, in presence of the Serzh Sargsyan signed the agreement on the status, immunities and privileges of the Armenian-Russian Humanitarian Response Center.

President Serzh Sargsyan awarded the Minister of RF on Civil Defense, Emergency Situations and Elimination of the Consequences of Natural Disasters Vladimir Puchkov with the Order of Friendship for his considerable contribution to the deepening of cooperation of the rescue structures of the two countries, strengthening and development of the Armenian-Russian friendly relations. The President of Armenia also thanked him for his efforts in eliminating the consequences of the earthquake in Spitak.