YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Efficiently countering and managing emergency situations must be under the constant spotlight in the government’s agenda, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in remarks delivered at the Ministry of Emergency Situations headquarters in Yerevan on the occasion of the occupation holiday of the ministry’s personnel.

“Congratulations on this important occupational holiday. And I would like to emphasize that this year we are marking this day in special circumstances when we all witnessed the huge job the firefighters and rescuers did and continue doing all over the country,” the PM said, referring to the heat-related increase of wildfires and other types of fires in Armenia.

“We can say without exaggeration that his year our rescuers and firefighters have with their selfless work manages the kind of risks which could have led our country and the population to face serious disasters. And I would like to once again thank you all for your selfless work and I would like to express hope, wish and conviction that you will continue being so devoted further on. Indeed, in modern times we are facing new challenges of emergency situations related to climate change. And in the government’s agenda the issue of efficiently countering and managing emergency situations must be under constant focus. The government must draw special attention to the social security and guarantee issue of emergency situations personnel,” the PM said.

PM Pashinyan added that the government should also pay special attention to the rescue service’s technical equipment.

“In this context we must also pay as much attention to raising the level of citizens’ awareness towards emergency situations. And as much as we note that climate changes are increasing the risks of emergency situations, at the same time we must also note that these risks become challenges exclusively due to human factor,” he said, adding that the rescue service should raise awareness among the population for every citizen to realize “what kind of serious consequences a seemingly innocent behavior could have”.

The PM also praised the rescue service noting that the level of trust the citizens have for them is always increasing.

“For the record, the citizens’ and public’s trust is the most important value which is extremely difficult to gain and extremely easy to lose. In this context I am convinced that you will continue your loyal service to the Republic of Armenia and its people,” the PM said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan