{"id":12783,"date":"2026-09-29T12:04:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T08:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wgsa.am\/%d5%bc%d5%a1%d5%a6%d5%b4%d5%a1%d5%be%d5%a1%d6%80%d5%b8%d6%82%d5%a9%d5%b5%d5%b8%d6%82%d5%b6%d5%ab%d6%81-%d5%a4%d5%a5%d5%ba%d5%ab-%d5%a3%d5%b8%d6%80%d5%ae%d5%b8%d5%b2%d5%b8%d6%82%d5%a9%d5%b5%d5%b8\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T12:14:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T08:14:03","slug":"international-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wgsa.am\/en\/international-conference\/","title":{"rendered":""From Strategy to Action": The 3rd Annual Two-Day International Conference "Comprehensive Security & Resilience \u2014 2026" Held in Yerevan"},"content":{"rendered":"

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YEREVAN, Armenia<\/b> <\/span>\u2014 Strategic competition, technological disruptions, and hybrid threats are unsettling global stability, placing security-vulnerable democracies under unprecedented pressure. Responding to this urgent imperative, the Women & Global Security Architecture (WGSA) think tank hosted the 3rd annual international conference “Comprehensive Security & Resilience \u2014 2026”<\/b><\/span> on September 17\u201318 in Yerevan.<\/p>\n

Operating under the motto “From Strategy to Action,”<\/b><\/span> this flagship multi-stakeholder platform convened high-level officials from the Republic of Armenia, international partners, defense policy experts, and civil society leaders for the third consecutive year. The forum aimed to translate battle-tested security solutions into practice, while fostering innovative approaches and forward-looking strategies.<\/p>\n

The conference commenced with opening remarks by WGSA President Armine Margaryan<\/b>,<\/span> who underscored the strategic urgency of transitioning from traditional, siloed defense models toward agile, multi-layered resilience ecosystems:<\/p>\n

“Modern asymmetric and hybrid threats require a seamless synergy between whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches. Building a comprehensive defense system is an ongoing institutional journey that demands coordinated civil participation, rather than relying solely on the state apparatus.”<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

H.E. Ms. Kirsti Narinen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland to Armenia<\/b><\/span>, highlighted the role of whole-of-society engagement in strengthening security resilience during her welcoming remarks:<\/p>\n

“Comprehensive security means that vital societal functions are safeguarded through horizontal cooperation among all stakeholders. Democratic institutions, state agencies, businesses, NGOs, research centers, and citizens work together.”<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

Expanding upon this framework of collective responsibility, H.E. Ms. Alexandra Cole, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Armenia<\/b><\/span>, stressed the imperative of operationalizing comprehensive security models alongside active civic participation:<\/p>\n

“Citizens and institutions must not be viewed as passive actors or mere victims in the face of ongoing security threats… As the saying goes in English, ‘hope is not a strategy.’ We must recognize that hard work lies ahead to translate all our proposals regarding a comprehensive security and resilience framework into an actionable program.”<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

Delivering the keynote address for the second consecutive year, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan<\/b><\/span> articulated the Government’s strategic priorities for reinforcing state sovereignty and institutional capabilities, noting that genuine security mandates a fundamental shift in perception:<\/p>\n

“Many of our security challenges begin in our mindset\u2014in our perception of reality and our environment… A country without a combat-ready army simply risks becoming an attractive target for aggression, inviting conflict. Within our security architecture, a combat-ready army operates strictly within the bounds of international legitimacy.”<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

Moving from macro-level strategies to executive implementation, the conference featured a series of high-level Fireside Chats and thematic panel discussions dedicated to key operational pillars of comprehensive security.<\/p>\n

During the Fireside Chat “Operationalizing Comprehensive Security: Localizing Best Practices in Armenia,”<\/b> Cyberwatch Finland Director Aapo Cederberg<\/b><\/span> emphasized that effective national resilience rests on proactive risk management, “security-by-design” principles in digital infrastructure, and continuous public education models across all segments of society.<\/p>\n

In the panel discussion “Countering Hybrid Threats: What Measures Are We Taking?”<\/b><\/span> participants examined how Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) alongside domestic disinformation exploit cognitive vulnerabilities. The discussion highlighted how non-kinetic threats across Europe and the South Caucasus have intensified through cyberattacks and DDoS operations targeting critical infrastructure. The consensus underscored the need for robust regulatory frameworks, information sharing, and a long-term commitment to media literacy.<\/p>\n

In the panel discussion “Operationalizing Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society Approaches,”<\/b> <\/span>the whole-of-society model was framed as a modern mechanism for civic preparedness. Panelists stressed that functional resilience requires continuous interagency readiness, joint civil-military exercises, and early warning systems.<\/p>\n

The first day concluded with the high-level Fireside Chat “The Internal Front of Security: Institutional Stability, Civil Protection, and Societal Resilience”<\/b><\/span> featuring Armenia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Arpine Sargsyan<\/b>.<\/span> The Minister emphasized:<\/p>\n

“Modern civil protection cannot remain an isolated emergency service; it requires institutionalized coordination, swift public communication, and deep integration with local communities to withstand hybrid crises.”<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

The second day of the conference opened with the panel discussion “Modern Warfare and Tactical Sovereignty: The Military Dimension of Comprehensive Security,”<\/b><\/span> during which speakers analyzed lessons from high-intensity conflicts, underscoring the vital need for rapid technological adaptability, decentralized command structures, and a domestic defense industry.<\/p>\n

This was followed by the Fireside Chat “The Role of Parliament in the Comprehensive Security System: Legislative Framework and Democratic Oversight”<\/b> with Vilen Gabrielyan, Chair of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security of the National Assembly of Armenia<\/b>,<\/span> who noted:<\/p>\n

“Democratic oversight is not an impediment to national defense; it is the ultimate guarantee of institutional integrity and legislative adaptability.”<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

Completing the series of bilateral discussions, the Fireside Chat “Reframing Foreign Policy: Aligning Trade, Diplomacy, and National Resilience”<\/b> <\/span>featured Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Vahan Kostanyan<\/b><\/span>, who remarked:<\/p>\n

“Diplomatic engagement today is intrinsically linked to economic diversification, supply chain security, and strategic trade partnerships that mitigate asymmetric vulnerabilities.”<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

The thematic working sessions concluded with the panel discussion “The Armenia\u2013EU Agenda: Achievements, Opportunities, and Challenges,”<\/b><\/span> where participants mapped out prospects for Armenia\u2013EU convergence, highlighting economic resilience, visa liberalization, civil society monitoring, and the security of strategic energy and transport corridors.<\/p>\n

The official proceedings concluded with a closing address by H.E. Ms. Marge Mardisalu-Kahar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Estonia to Armenia<\/b><\/span>, who reflected on the commonalities shared by small democratic nations facing external pressures:<\/p>\n

“At the core of comprehensive security is indeed society as a whole\u2014the undeniable realization that without societal cohesion and the strength of every link in the chain, a nation cannot remain resilient… You must plan rigorously, and we must practice, practice, and practice again.”<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

Reflecting on the conference’s outcomes and outlining next steps, Armine Margaryan<\/b><\/span> reaffirmed WGSA’s institutional mission in translating high-level security dialogue into tangible policy outcomes:<\/p>\n

“Resilience is neither a static state nor passive defense; it is an active, continuous national discipline. The insights, strategic models, and interagency workflows developed throughout this conference will be directly synthesized into a White Paper to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Defense and Security System in the Republic of Armenia and accelerate the nation’s transition from strategy to concrete action.”<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

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