OSCE-ORGANIZED CONFERENCE GATHERS SCIENTISTS TO DISCUSS ARMENIA’S CAPACITY TO CONFRONT NEW SECURITY THREATS

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

Nov 3 2006

YEREVAN, 2 November 2006 – Scientists and researchers from Armenia,
Russia and the United States met in Yerevan for a two-day conference,
organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, to talk about Armenia’s
capacity to deal with new threats and challenges to security.

"This event, which is a follow-up to a similar conference held in
November 2004, is meant to bring together Armenia’s academia and
beyond and to give them an opportunity to exchange their views on
human security challenges in Armenia and the wider Southern Caucasus,"
said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office.

"Functioning democratic institutions and the rule of law play an
important role in preventing threats to human security worldwide.

This is where the OSCE comes in: respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law are at the core
of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security," he said.

One of the key recommendations emanating from the event was to
connect with the so-called Byurakan Symposia on Global Challenges,
which served in the 1960s and 70s to promote international contacts
of Armenia’s scientific community and civil society. It is hoped that
the event will be held on an annual basis.