Felix Tsolakyan Hosts Newly Appointed Head of EU Delegation Office

On October 1, Minister of Emergency Situations of Armenia, Felix Tsolakyan, welcomed the newly appointed head of the EU delegation office, Ms. Andrea Victorin. In greeting the guest, Minister Tsolakyan congratulated Andrea Victorin on her appointment as head of the EU delegation office.

Recalling the support provided by the EU, the minister mentioned the €230,000 program for the provision of equipment to the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Furthermore, according to the minister, work is underway to deepen and expand cooperation in the field of natural and man-made disaster risk reduction and population protection in emergencies, under the framework of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the EU.

In Felix Tsolakyan's view, the current priority issue is the disposal of chemical radioactive waste present in Armenia, for which adequate capabilities are lacking. The regional position adds additional complexities. According to the minister, there is a waste disposal facility in the city of Isfahan, Iran, and the Iranian side is ready to transport the waste for disposal, but financial issues arise. International cooperation can be very beneficial in this matter.

Andrea Victorin expressed gratitude for the warm and positive welcome and assured the readiness of the EU to support Armenia's development. According to her, this stance is expressed in the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, where the civilian protection component is highly emphasized. Andrea Victorin believes that it is necessary to raise awareness of disaster risks and to constantly remember the devastating consequences.

In addition to the ambassador's remarks, the minister added that it has been proposed to include December 7 as a day of remembrance and resilience in memorial days. At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Emergency Situations once again congratulated Ambassador Andrea Victorin on assuming her responsible position, expressing confidence that the ambassador's long-standing experience will further facilitate the deepening of cooperation between the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the EU.