Yerevan/Mediamax/. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills said that "the intersection of corruption and national security is an issue of critical importance in Armenia”.

The George C. Marshall Center (GCMC) of Security Studies hosted an alumni outreach event in Yerevan on September 29, which featured two GCMC alumni - Hayarpi Mkhitaryan from the Armenian National Security Council and Yelizaveta Margaryan from the Ministry of Finance - who presented their views on the topic of “Corruption as a National Security Threat.” 

U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills welcomed the Marshall Center alumni and congratulated them on the important role they have played in “collectively contributing to a better and more robust understanding in Washington and many European capitals of the unique security and defense challenges facing Armenia and the Caucasus region.” 

Ambassador Mills added that “the intersection of corruption and national security is an issue of critical importance in Armenia and around the world, and I am pleased to see these two professionals, and the distinguished alumni and guests who have gathered here today, address this subject with such seriousness.”

Since 1995 Armenia is sending 15 students per year on average to the GCMC.  Currently there are approximately 240 GCMC alumni in Armenia who hold a broad range of positions within the Armenian government, as well as other agencies and institutions.