Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the National Security Service and participated in the solemn session dedicated to the Day of the National Security Service Employee.

The Prime Minister made a speech, in which he particularly noted:

“Dear Director of the National Security Service,
Dear Deputy Directors,
Gentlemen Generals and Officers,

I congratulate all of us on the occasion of the Day of the National Security Service Employee and I would like to thank all of you for your service and work.

I think 2024 was a very important year, including for the National Security Service. It has already been mentioned that this year, as a result of the decision made in 2024, we celebrate the Day of the National Security Service Employee on January 8, and we will continue to celebrate it on January 8. Of course, this decision was related to the legislative changes made to the procedure for organizing the work of the service, but there is also political symbolism and content in this, because the National Security Service is one of the most important institutions for preserving and strengthening the independence and sovereignty of the state, the Republic of Armenia.

And I must note with pleasure that also in 2024, the National Security Service fulfilled the task set for it. And I must also emphasize that the changes made in the National Security Service are very significant in terms of the logic of the activities of special services in a democratic society, because, you know, the main essence of the changes was that, from now on, the leadership personnel holds a civil public position, but this in no way belittles, but rather emphasizes the importance of officer and military service. I have said on several occasions, many times, that I believe that the officers in general are the backbone of any state without exaggeration and are the pillar of the state, the country. The officers of the Republic of Armenia, the officers in general, and the National Security Service in this regard, of course, are of key importance.

In order to further develop and strengthen this thesis in a strategic sense, we have also included in our reform agenda the agenda of strengthening officer education in the Republic of Armenia. My understanding is that in addition to the specialization in various military directions, there is also a universal officer psychology, officer education, officer upbringing, to which the Republic of Armenia should pay special attention, in accordance with the logic and considerations I mentioned earlier.

I must emphasize that indeed, in 2024, the National Security Service, with its actions and activities, has definitely increased the confidence in it and the conviction that we have a more efficient service with each passing year, which is capable of ensuring the security of the state and society.

Also, the public information is that at least several very large and significant terrorist attacks have been prevented by the National Security Service. Of course, for many this is just a brief news report, circulating in the media and social networks sometimes only a day or two, maybe a week actively, but I think many do not imagine what a huge amount of work lies behind all this. But here I want to emphasize that this very circumstance is important. You see, we have gone through very difficult situations in recent years, but it has been possible to maintain the security and stability of the Republic of Armenia. For example, when various political events occur, in many cases we qualify it as instability, etc., and so on. My assessment is not that, because in a democratic society there must be and will be manifestations of this all the time. It is very important to what extent it is possible to maintain legality and law and order during these processes.

And our state bodies, including the National Security Service, have been fully able to uphold the law and legality, and this testifies to the development of the institutional capabilities of our law enforcement system and the National Security Service. In recent years, of course, the funding of the National Security Service has increased significantly, and this funding is reflected in the development of infrastructure, development of capabilities, also in the improvement of social guarantees for the employees of the National Security Service. And I am very happy that we can record such results.

I must emphasize the successful role and activities of the National Security Service in the field of counterintelligence. We have talked about agent networks at so many political levels, we have talked about 5th columns, but in previous years the National Security Service has managed to uncover many networks of even seemingly incredible size. And this, I think, is also very important evidence of the service's efficiency and development.

I would like to emphasize the creation and development of the special unit, one of the key and important goals of which is to ensure the functioning of international communications and infrastructure in general passing through our country.

Dear guests,

I am glad that we can again note, and I hope that it is not only noted by us, but also by the service employees, that the institutional capabilities of the National Security Service are increasing, and the National Security Service proves its efficiency and effectiveness on every occasion. But I also want to emphasize the following: it is very important that now the policy pursued by the National Security Service is as follows: relying on the best experienced personnel, we also start a process of updating the service. To be honest, for a long time there was such a regret that the attractiveness of working in the National Security Service for young people does not seem to be at the proper level, but if I understand correctly, at least in recent years, including as a result of some reforms and decisions implemented, there has been a fairly visible flow of young personnel to the National Security Service. And this is very important, because our esteemed experienced generals and officers who have been serving in the National Security Service for many years, it is very important that there is this opportunity to pass on the legacy, so to speak, and that young people also see the path by which they will reach the level that many people present in the hall have reached.

I also want to emphasize that, in fact, after the popular, non-violent, velvet revolution in 2018, there were no upheavals not only in the National Security Service, but also in our law enforcement system. I have set this task before myself, because it does not matter what the atmosphere in the country is, what happened, what is happening, state institutions should be the subject of special attention, because if someone attacks a state institution, it does not matter whether it is the opposition, the government, an official, an ordinary citizen, they are cutting off the branch on which they are sitting. This is so obvious that there is nothing to discuss there. And this is also the reason why I attach great importance to the fact that in our socio-psychology the state and statehood, and the state institutions that stem from this, should have a key place, and the importance of this place should grow more and more.

And I am glad that the National Security Service is one of such successful examples, where the best traditions of professionalism have been preserved. The National Security Service and we, in general, all understand that modern technologies and the world are developing very quickly. Even with the greatest knowledge, the greatest intellect, the best education, just standing still, one can be left miles behind, because it is developing so quickly today... There is no shame in that, dear colleagues, that we say that yes, education should become a daily activity, enriching one's own knowledge, skills, testing, understanding which of the reliable knowledge or skills we have is already outdated. There is such a thing, there is a skill that was very effective twenty years ago, today that skill not only does not work effectively, but also works against you. Therefore, we should also know that this skill is over, we have archived it as a historical value, we keep it in the museum so that we know that such a thing existed in the past. And I am very happy that there is this mood within the service itself, that yes, in a changing world, we must change and transform. And this is one of the important guarantees that the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia will continue to develop and achieve success.

Once again, I congratulate all of us on the occasion of the Day of the National Security Service Employee and thank all of you for your service to the Republic of Armenia. Thank you.”

On the occasion of the Day of the National Security Service Employee, Nikol Pashinyan awarded a group of NSS employees with the commemorative medal of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia for their contribution to strengthening the security, law and order of the homeland.