President Serzh Sargsyan receives delegation of the World Organization of the Scout Movement

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the delegation of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) headed by Secretary-General Scott Teare. The delegation included the representatives of the National Scout Movement of Armenia (NSMA) and the members of the World Scout Committee who have arrived in Armenia to hold the meeting of the WOSM Eurasia Regional Scout Committee from 6 to 11 May.

The president welcomed the meeting participants and attached importance to the mission of scouting and the work carried out by the movement aimed at the nurturing of a dedicated, educated and value-oriented generation which is healthy both physically and mentally.

Underscoring that there are other organizations in Armenia which carry out such youth educational activities, Serzh Sargsyan noted that the more there are organizations engaged in such gratifying work, the more beneficial it will be for the state and the society.

The Armenian president placed importance on the close cooperation of the NSMA with international and regional scout organizations and on the organization of regular pan-Armenian and international meetings throughout these years, which, according to the president, is crucial to promoting collaboration, conducting exchange of experience and establishing warm and friendly relations.

Serzh Sargsyan mentioned that despite being founded in 1989, it was not until 1997 when the NSMA was upgraded to a full-fledged member of the WOSM. Nevertheless, the organization has been the preserver and continuator of the traditions of the Armenian General Athletic Union which was founded back in 1918, at the time of the First Republic of Armenia.

In his welcoming speech, the Armenian president touched upon the WOSM Messengers of Peace Initiative aimed at the establishment and promotion of peace and emphasized that it is a vital project for Armenia which seeks to achieve peace, stability and development in the region. According to the president, considering the peace and security challenges facing today the Middle East, our region and the world in general such initiatives are more important and urgent than ever.

The president presented the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs aimed at a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and stressed that Armenia does its best to build confidence and conduct constructive negotiations. For that purpose, our country also participates in different international and regional events held in Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan avoids taking part in such events hosted by Armenia, even in the apolitical seminar of the scout movement.
The president noted that all countries, including Armenia, make efforts to give youth the opportunity for self-expression.

At the meeting, the WOSM Secretary-General and all the participants thanked President Serzh Sargsyan for the hospitality and the support and undivided attention given to the scout movement in Armenia and noted that next October they plan to hold one more major event in Armenia – a regional conference. The participants of the scout movement expressed the hope that during those days the president will be hosted at the Byurakan scout camp.