DEFENSE MINISTRY TO HAVE OWN THINK TANK

ArmenPress
May 31 2004

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS: The official start to the construction
of the National Institute for Strategic Researches, affiliated with
Armenian defense ministry, was held today. The new establishment will
carry the name of Drastamat Kanayan, a prominent Armenian military
leader.

Addressing the present, defense minister Serzh Sarkisian said the
idea to build such an establishment ripened after Kanayan’s relatives,
living in the USA, arrived in Armenia to propose to build the institute
on funds they were going to raise.

Sarkisian said the idea was welcomed, “as being located in a
complicated geo-political environment Armenia did not have for
centuries opportunities to conduct national policy and build supporting
establishments.” He said having in mind Armenia’s ongoing integration
with international organizations, its boosting relations with Russia
and the USA, the need of such an establishment is growing day by day.

According to the defense minister, the primary goal of the new
institute will be to provide divisions of the national security
council, in the first place the defense ministry, with qualified
consulting, conducting of special researches and training of
personnel. A total of $600,000 were raised to build the new think-tank.