“The internal troops and security forces of the Republic of Armenia completely suffice to solve internal problems. In case of an emergency the army must be more alert on the border,” stated former deputy minister of defense Vahan Shirkhanyan at Hayatsk Club today, talking about the Emergency Situations bill passed in the parliament on first reading the previous day.
In response to a question of a journalist whether the establishment tried to solve the issue of what had been done on March 1, 2008, by this bill, Vahan Shirkhanyan said, “March 1 was a repulsive incident, a criminal incident toward the people, as well as politics and world. It mustn’t repeat ever. Kocharyan had no right to use armed forces in those operations on March 1 – it was an unconstitutional and illegal step. However, even if we suppose that the election may be accompanied by instability and violence, I think it is very improbable.” Responding to a question of Aravot.am whether the arguments of the Minister of Justice on the importance of this bill seemed right to him, Vahan Shirkhanyan said, “I think that bill should have been passed a year ago, half a year ago and was not connected to the upcoming election. However, it has been put forward now. I think that the country must have an Emergency Situations bill, because it is a necessary tool for all countries, not only Armenia.”
Shirkhanyan thinks repetition of the 2008 events might have been possible during the presidential election next year, but “only if nothing had changed since 2008.”
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In the spokesperson’s opinion, the last year showed that the establishment takes steps to ease concerns in the industry, in particular, in the agricultural sphere, “If more serious program work was done, there was an analysis on causes of the crisis, I think the tensions and discontent in the society would considerably ease. Few things are needed for that, to stop talking about democratization and speak of social democratization. To change the economic and government systems.”
Nelly GRIGORYAN
