On October 5, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received Edmond Mulet, the UN Assistant-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations.

Welcoming the guest, Minister Nalbandian stressed the UN's leading role in maintaining peace and security in the world and highlighted that Armenia attaches great importance to its involvement in peacekeeping and consistently strengthens its relevant capabilities.

Edmond Mulet expressed gratitude for reception and noted that the need for peacekeeping missions has grown in parallel with the increase of number of conflicts around the world.

During the meeting the sides touched upon Armenia’s participation in peacekeeping missions. Within that context the UN official highly appreciated Armenia’s contribution to peacekeeping missions in different countries. Minister Nalbandian noted, that the geography of Armenia’s participation in previous and current peacekeeping missions - Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Mali, proves the importance that Armenia attaches to maintaining peace in the world. He outlined, that Armenia is grateful to the United States, Greece, Italy and Germany for their assistance in the development of peacekeeping capabilities of Armenia.

Edward Nalbandian stressed that one of the priorities of Armenia's Chairmanship in the Collective Security Treaty Organization is the development of peacekeeping capabilities of the Organization. In that regard, the Minister highlighted the CSTO’s cooperation with the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations within the framework of Memorandum signed in 2012.

The Minister and UN Assistant-Secretary General exchanged views on the results of the Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping held in New York on September 28. In that context, the UN Assistant Secretary-General stressed the importance of participation of the President of Armenia in the abovementioned summit.