On March 17, a ceremony was held to open a new fire and rescue station in Stepanavan, equipped with modern standards, technical facilities and new rapid response capabilities. The event was attended by the Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan.

Present at the ceremony were U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien, Director of the Rescue Service-Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kamo Tsutsulyan, Governor of Lori province Aram Ghazaryan, representatives from state and local government bodies and rescue service personnel.

Minister Sargsyan expressed her gratitude to the U.S. government for its support in building the Stepanavan fire and rescue station. She emphasized the importance of continued cooperation with U.S. partners in enhancing disaster resilience, noting that similar centers were built in six other communities in Armenia.

Arpine Sargsyan highlighted that the establishment of Stepanavan fire and rescue station is a significant initiative, as it will enable rescuers to respond more quickly to emergencies by being closer to the community. It also provides dignified working conditions for the personnel.

“The Armenian government has adopted entirely new strategic approaches in disaster risk management, which will help us focus not only on emergency response but also on assessing existing risks from the outset, understanding what early warning systems we can implement, and then moving towards response and post-disaster recovery. This will enable us to act more effectively within the disaster risk management cycle”, stated Minister Sargsyan.

According to the Minister, the mission of the rescuer is to make Armenia a safer place to live, work and travel both institutional changes within the service and the material-technical equipment of the units were crucial in this context.

Reflecting on the experience of overcoming disasters in Lori and Tavush provinces, the Minister noted that it serves as an exemplary case for assessing the operational response capabilities of the Rescue Service.

Arpine Sargsyan also mentioned the continuous improvement of the professional skills of rescuers, as well as the formation of a volunteer fire and rescue squad in the province.

The Minister emphasized that no effort is spared in ensuring that rescue operations are carried out as quickly as possible for those who call the 911 emergency hotline.

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien stated that "This fire and rescue station provides an opportunity for Stepanavan and nearby communities to respond to emergencies more quickly".

The opening ceremony featured performances by the children of the "SOS Children's Villages" Armenian charity foundation, including song and dance.

Minister Arpine Sargsyan and Ambassador Kristina Kvien toured the facility, inspecting the building conditions, the equipment of the rest and communication rooms, as well as the technical and material resources available to the staff.