Pashinyan's Speech at the Police Anniversary Meeting

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the solemn meeting of the Police's 106th anniversary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Prior to the meeting, Pashinyan and Minister of Internal Affairs Vahe Ghazaryan laid flowers at the memorial plaque located in the courtyard of the Police headquarters to honor the memory of police officers who dedicated their lives to the homeland.

In his speech at the meeting, the Prime Minister congratulated all police personnel and expressed gratitude for their work. “I also want to thank you for the support that the police service, in general, and each police officer provides to the reform agenda we are implementing in the Police and the entire system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs,” he stated.

“When we started the police reforms, many said that before implementing them, there should be massive personnel changes in the police because there are different people working there in various ways and at different times, and they would not allow or resist the reform process. But we didn’t agree with that opinion, and we still don’t believe it today because we consider that it is very important to implement any change and reform based on the accumulated experience,” he added.

Pashinyan acknowledged the reality of change being challenging, noting, “The first reason is that, despite the numerous negative aspects, many people are already accustomed to the current situation.” He emphasized the difficulty of changing established norms.

He also addressed the challenges of ensuring successful police reform, mentioning the low number of police officers who have undergone the certification process. “The figure is actually small,” he noted, indicating that while some perceive this process as formal, its overarching goal is to cultivate continuous progress and motivation.

“We want a police officer’s child to encourage their parent by saying, ‘Why isn’t your salary double?’ This means that the motivation should come from within the police, rather than solely from government directives.”

Pashinyan stressed the importance of law enforcement, stating that police services are essential for the preservation of citizens' freedoms. He reiterated that the police must operate within a framework of laws and policies, which he believes are critical for effective governance.

“Every time I engage with this topic is vital. Questions about the essence of police work need to be continually addressed,” Pashinyan remarked, outlining the police's role in safeguarding the boundaries of citizen rights.

In conclusion, Pashinyan congratulated the police officers for their service and emphasized the significance of family support in their challenging profession. He expressed gratitude not just to the officers but also to their family members, acknowledging the hardships faced by families of police personnel.

On the occasion of Police Day, a number of officers have been awarded the Prime Minister's commemorative medal and certificates for their contributions to maintaining law and order.