YEREVAN, APRIL 30, NOYAN TAPAN. By instructions of the Armenian president, an interdepartmental commission on problems of the military-industrial sector has been set up. The commission is headed by Arthur Baghdasarian, Secretary of the National Security Council (NSC). Its purpose is to draft a concept and a state program of developing the military-industrial complex of Armenia and to take practical steps on its development. The problems of the military-industrial sector and the possible ways of their solution were discussed at the April 29 meeting of A. Baghdasarian and the heads of 39 enterprises cooperating with the ministry of defence. "The National Security Council has conducted studies on development of the military-industrial complexes in other countries. In Western European countries, the state spends 10-15% of the budget on development of the military-industrial complex as its operation means the development and modernization of other branches. Great importance was attached to development of the military-industrial complex in the USSR where such enterprises also produced consumer goods. Our studies show that there is some potential in our country, and we should use it efficiently to get good results," A. Baghdasarian said. Ara Tananian, Head of the National Security Strategy Implementation Department of NSC Staff, presented the results of the studies conducted by NSC. Murad Isakhanian, Head of the Military-Industrial Department of the Ministry of Defence, spoke about the problems related to the development of the complex. Summarizing the meeting's results, A. Baghdasarian considered it important to analyze the existing problems and work out correct ways of development. He said: "Our meetings with Russian and Belarusian companies have produced the first results. There are preliminary agreements, documents have been signed to encourage contacts between military-industrial enterprises of Armenia and these countries. A working group was created at the Security Councils of Armenia and Russia with the aim of ensuring progress in the sphere. I am convinced that we will be able to make considerable progress in several directions within a year". According to the press service of NSC Secretary, a decision was made to create a complete database based on passports to be presented to the heads of enterprises and to develop practical initiatives.

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