Pashinyan introduces Alen Simonyan as new Security Council Secretary

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan introduced the newly appointed Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan to the staff of the Security Council Office on Friday.

According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office, Pashinyan thanked outgoing Secretary Armen Grigoryan for his work, noting that throughout his tenure he had been fully involved in the security-related agenda, including the peace process.

Grigoryan had served as Secretary of the Security Council since 2018.

Former Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan was appointed as the new Secretary on August 13.

“Mr. Grigoryan has made a very significant contribution to our achievements in this area, and that is highly appreciated,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan wished the newly appointed Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan success, saying: “Mr. Simonyan was also involved in making important and strategic decisions during the previous period. I believe that, having also served as Speaker of the National Assembly, he is well informed about the work and can immediately begin effectively carrying out his duties as Secretary of the Security Council.”

Grigoryan thanked the Security Council Office team for their joint work, emphasizing its significant contribution to the successful work of the Council. He also congratulated Simonyan and wished him success.

Simonyan, in turn, thanked the Prime Minister for his trust and Grigoryan for his work. Addressing the staff, Simonyan said: “I believe we will be able to work together. Although, as the Prime Minister said, I am familiar with and have participated in these processes, I think you need to help me become more deeply involved in the day-to-day work, and I hope we will be able to work well together.”

The Prime Minister wished everyone success in their upcoming work, while emphasizing the importance of the work carried out during the previous period.

“An equally significant amount of important work must be done in the future as well. I believe the first thing we need to do is analyze the work of the previous period and determine the priorities on which the Security Council Office and its Secretary should focus going forward. I have specific ideas on this. I have specific tasks to assign to the Secretary of the Security Council and the Office. We will have discussions on this matter in the near future, and I will give the necessary instructions,” Pashinyan said.