Serzh Sargsyan convened a meeting of the Security Council

ArmInfo. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan convened a meeting of the Security Council.

As the press service of the Armenian head told ArmInfo, the agenda of  the meeting included issues arising from the activity plan of the  structure in 2017.

The draft concept of the management of natural resources of Armenia  and prospects for further improvement of the situation with food  security in the country were presented to the members of the Security  Council.

"The agenda of the meeting also included events in the Middle East  and their impact on local Armenian communities. The Armenian Foreign  Minister presented the meeting participants with information on the  above-mentioned issue," the statement reads.

The members of the Security Council approved the draft concept of the  management of natural resources of Armenia, presented by the Minister  of Energy and Natural Resources Ashot Manukyan. It is noted that the  development of the concept is aimed at revising the state concept on  the use of minerals, soil, forests, water resources and conservation  of biological diversity and setting priorities in accordance with  modern requirements. The main goal of the document is the formation  of a unified natural resource management system with the aim of  raising the level of environmental safety in the country.

After the discussion, Sargsyan instructed the secretariat of the  Security Council to supplement the draft concept, announced during  the meeting with proposals, within a week, and submit it in due  course for approval.

Minister of Agriculture of Armenia Ignaty Arakelyan made a report on  food security in the country and prospects for improving the  situation. The Council also discussed the reports of co-rapporteurs  on this issue of the Minister of Economic Development and Investments  Suren Karayan and the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations  David Tonoyan. Based on the results of the discussion, the government  was instructed to properly implement provisions on food security,  based on the government's program for 2017- 2021, with special  emphasis on increasing food security and providing the population  with modern quality services.

Also, the implementation of measures to implement effective measures  to prevent damage to agriculture caused by hail and natural disasters  was entrusted. Taking into account the international experience,  within two months, submit proposals on the minimum basket of food  security, the structure and discussion of the methodology for energy  assessment and the appropriateness of making changes in the law on  "living a minimum subsistence level and minimum consumer budget", as  well as activization of the implementation of the agricultural  insurance system.

After listening to the Foreign Minister's report on the situation in  the Middle East and its impact on local Armenian communities,  Sargsyan stressed the concern over the situation around the large  Armenian community, cultural and educational centers, as well as  religious and historical heritage.

Sargsyan instructed to continue measures to ensure the life and  security of compatriots in the Middle East, meet the needs of  Armenian refugees from Syria, as well as preserve the Armenian  cultural heritage. It was also instructed to continue working with  partner countries and international structures to ensure the duration  of assistance to Syrian Armenians and be prepared for possible  adverse processes, while developing the level of traditional  relations with Arab countries.