It is a fact that for making unbiased and deep analysis of the internal and external political developments analyzers should know the “color of underwear that politicians prefer”, in other words, the minor details. Professional analyzers can use that information too to make conclusions aimed at this or that person. However, if you discuss the Armenian news coverage both in papers and the Internet to see which part concerns the regions and which part the capital, you will see that almost all the information concerns Yerevan and there isn’t much information about the foreign developments, and if there is any – it is cut out. It’s a fact that is worth discussing: the Armenian coverage on Turkey and Azerbaijan is taken out from their own sources of information. We understand that first-hand information is not cheap and easy to get. For example, if we compare the news coverage with the market of clothes, we will see that the products and services in these two markets are alike: the goods and services in the mentioned markets are second-hand, bad quality and often made in Turkey. Is it possible to solve the problem by creating a “strategy for information security”, which is a theoretical paper and may not work. All these issues were discussed by the head of “Noravank” foundation, Gagik Harutyunyan: “It is not correct to say that we don’t need any strategy for electronic security if such simple principles are not followed. Why? By saying “information security” we don’t mean only security of news. This is a deep understanding and is a part of the national security. Educational, scientific, religious and psychological factors are an integral part to information security. If we have clear understanding and concepts about information security, people that are responsible for information security may feel more responsible for the job they are doing”.
As an example for the mentioned view Mr. Harutyunyan spoke about the issue of sending Armenian peacekeeping troops to Lebanon that was discussed recently. We will be able to understand whether it will be beneficial to do that or not only after making specific analysis. Nevertheless, in spite of the fact that we have big Armenian communities both in Israel and Lebanon, we didn’t have any information about their conditions and the situation in those communities during the war. “Analyzers should get first-hand information from the region to understand what is really happening there so that they can make correct analysis. We don’t have our own information sources in Lebanon and Israel”, said Gagik Harutyunyan. There were information tubes during the war; the media of those countries provided information, however that information was not enough for our interests and we didn’t know what was really happening in Jerusalem. The information that is not first-hand is interesting only if there is no information about the most important things generally. “I am recommending to work out a national information security strategy, and then create strategies for social, economic, religious and information issues”. This process is done in the same manner in the whole world: the government places an order and experts are creating a strategy. Nevertheless, our country that has many problems connected both with information and information technologies do not consider the mentioned issues important very much. As an example we may discuss the national security strategy that was developed recently. The head of “Noravank” foundation thinks that the mentioned draft strategy is a positive factor: “Three years ago the ministry of defense was criticized in not having a strategy for national security. Now we have it. If we start working on a strategy plan for information security, in the future we will have it too”. Gagik Harutyunyan said that in the framework of their plan as well as the “Drastamat Kanayan” experts’ center of the defense ministry and the “Strategic analysis center” of the president’s office are ready to collaborate with them.
“You have an apple, and I have an apple too, if we exchange our apples, both of us will still have an apple. You have an idea, I have an idea too, if we exchange our ideas, both of us will have two ideas”. With this idea of Bernard Show the head of the “Noravank” foundation shows that he is optimistic concerning the informational security strategy. Maybe he’s right. However, based on the current situation in the field of information technologies, it seems that currently we are more interested in just having an apple.