Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan introduced the newly appointed head of the State Protection Service, Artur Gasparyan to the employees of the Service.

First of all, the Prime Minister thanked Sargis Hovhannisyan for his long-term work as the head of the State Protection Service and in the service in general. Nikol Pashinyan wished Artur Gasparyan success in his position as the head of the State Protection Service.

"I think last year was a turning point for the Service in the sense that the Service entered a new stage of development, receiving the status of a body subordinate to the Prime Minister instead a body subordinate to the National Security Service. In fact, this is not a step outside of the general process, but since the first day, by achieving different statuses step by step, the State Protection Service has developed in this direction. But it is the first step, or rather, the beginning of the long road, because we hope that the State Protection Service will be able to develop and become a functional special service providing state security.

But it is also obvious that it is not possible to do it in one day, nor in two days, and we need to have a clear idea, a clear plan, how we will do it. Essentially, that plan is still in the stage of formation, and the ideas are mostly formed. So, it's time to make it happen. Also, you need to make adjustments along the way, understanding what is appropriate for the given situation and what is not. But, in general, I think that a very important decision was made, and I am convinced this is the right decision. Although in the course of practical implementation we will see that some approaches need to be corrected, adjusted, but that is another topic of conversation.

Mr. Hovhannisyan, I thank you once again for your long service, in the State Protection Service in general, and for working as the head of the State Protection Service in particular. You have managed to work in both old and new capacity and it deserves appreciation."

Sargis Hovhannisyan thanked the Prime Minister for the trust and congratulated Artur Gasparyan on his appointment as the head of the State Protection Service. Sargis Hovhannisyan wished the officers of the State Protection Service peaceful service.

In his turn, Artur Gasparyan also thanked the Prime Minister for the trust. "It is a great honor for me to head the State Protection Service. I assure you that the service will fulfill all the tasks set before it with great honor."