NSC Secretary about the CC’s report, the offshore scandal and the relations of “new quality”
– The report of the Control Chamber as of 2012 became the subject of heated debate in the Parliament. How do you review the report findings? Are you going to make the issue a subject for discussion at the National Security Council, since we are talking about the embezzlement of AMD 701 billion from the state budget, 70 percent of the state budget?
– 70% of the budget can not be misspend, because it means that no public servant shall receive a salary. I think the Chamber’s report was full of assessments, which is not true. The president of Control Chamber also acknowledged the need to refrain from political assessments. With regard to shortcomings outlined in the report of the Control Chamber, we have already expressed our position; the abuses must be presented as documented and by Ministries, and not in general. It must be evident what ministry and what company has made abuses. In that case, we will make this issue a matter of discussion, and also take actions to exercise these people to responsibility. We’re for clarity, unfortunately, the report was not presented like that. But I think that adequate conclusions will be made, because there are enough professional team in the CC. We just have to change the direction of the problem and present arguments.
– In your opinion, why did not the President of the Control Chamber submit the report based on arguments, but did general records?
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– I do not know. Maybe he did not expect such a heated discussion and a feedback. But we can not say that the budget is 70 percent misspent. It just means a simple thing that people do not receive a salary. If there are abuses, they should be targeted and specific.
– Recently, there was another scandalous event, the so-called offshore scandal, which was connected with the name of the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and the Ararat Diocese Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan. The Prime Minister presented clarifications at the Parliament, which we are satisfied with.
I think that the explanations will be exhaustive if the Prosecution’s Office based on the Prime Minister’s application executes operations in compliance with respective procedures and gives a comprehensive explanation. In addition, a criminal case is filed over a well-known person (Ashot Sukiasyan – N. C.), and a reconnaissance is declared, and the end of the criminal case will also provide answers to many questions. I personally have no reason not to trust the Prime Minister of our country, for two reasons: first, he is the Prime Minister, the second, he has made a clear statement, has applied to law enforcement agencies, a criminal case has been opened. Let’s wait for the results.
– In your impression, wasn’t the confession letter of the well-known person Ashot Sukiasyan too simplistic?
– At this stage may, it may, indeed, be reviewed as such. But a reconnaissance is declared and an investigation is conducted.
– Yesterday, a number of agreements on military technical cooperation were signed between RA and RF, which you qualified as key, saying that Armenia-Russia relations thus are put to a new level. Recently, RF, has also sold Azerbaijan more than a billion dollar of land armature. Isn’t it concerning that the key country of the Minsk Group co-chair countries is consistently equipping two countries that have a problem with each other.
– The purchase of ammunition and military equipment is stipulated by the respective international treaties, and by each country’s domestic procedures. Azerbaijan has bought a large quantity of armature from Israel, Ukraine, and so on. The same is true about Armenia. Being a country member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, we have two intergovernmental agreements with RF, under which we import advanced weapons and military equipment into our country. I understand the implication of the questions and accept that there is a reasonable claim. At the same time, we can expect that the OSCE Minsk Group member countries stop selling armatures to parties in conflict. It will be very good wish, but we can not bring it to life. These countries decide themselves. Then, there is also a problem for Armenia, because our primary strategic partner is RF, and the military equipment in Armenia is mainly of Russian production.
– Recently, it seems that the visit of Russian officials to Armenia has been intensified, especially signing of various agreements in the field of military, first with a delegation led by the Secretary for Security, then within CSTO framework. Do they have connection with signing of the Association Agreement planned in the EU summit in Vilnius?
– Today Armenia is implementing a balanced policy. Such policy is very important because we need to be able to cooperate effectively with both the European Union, RF and the Eurasian Union. We need to adopt the policy of “and” and not “or” because the first one allows everyone to have a harmonized relationship. With each power center there is its strategic direction. The provision of security is the supreme issue for today’s Armenia, and I think the it’s not a secret for anyone that the RF is our number one partner. Of course, it is very difficult to do so, so that our positions are acceptable for all parties. But we are a small country and we should be able not to cut the treads with the world’s power centers, will be able to present our straightforward approach to our partners. So far, we seem successful.
But the visits were planned. Representatives of 11 branches of the RF Rxecutive power were presented in the staff of 25-member delegation headed by Nikolai Patrushev. The visit was very fruitful. After visiting number 102 base deployed in Gyumri, a decision was achieved to upgrade the database, which was revealed in the signed documents. This is extremely important considering the fever of Azerbaijan to be recruited militarily. In fact, Armenia will be the only country where ‘Rosgranitsa’ will have its representation. This will allow to upgrade the state borders of Armenia with Iran and Turkey with modern technology. The agreement on technical cooperation was the most crucial. This is in some sense an exclusive contract. It provides quite serious opportunity to develop the military industry in Armenia. By the order of the President of Armenia, a state commission on military industry is established which is headed by me, and the agreement signed with Russian side will enable to record serious achievements in the military industry. The package with whole issues of this aspect is spelled out by this contract.
It is also important that in the sphere of Emergency Situations of Armenia a new humanitarian center will be established in our country, which will have regional significance. Soon, the airport in Stepanavan will soon be handed over to MES by the Government decree. A large infrastructure will be created that will provide humanitarian aid and assistance the region during emergency situation. This is also an opportunity to strengthen our rescue divisions. The matter is about large-scale investments. The base will be centralized in Balahovit. ‘HayRusStateReserve’ organization will be established in Armenia. Our infrastructure named after Gagarin will be invested by the Armenian side. This means
accumulation of not only the equipment, food but also many other components in the territory of Armenia with RF reserve funds. This is especially important for our security. Let me bring you one example: if the Georgian-Russian war was continued for two more days, there was no flour, no fuel in our country. This infrastructure can be also used as regional significance, and in this project Armenian for the first time becomes a role player, our country together with RF will make a decision in whether or not giving something to another country. It is also and increase of the country role.
A document of quite serious and long-term cooperation was signed on the modernization of the Byurakan Observatory. Unique sighting devices of the world will be installed: we are talking about modern telescopes that will be installed at an altitude of 3 thousand meters, which will have a space security importance. The next was upgrading of Garni observatory. A production will be organized in Armenia for ‘Roskosmos’ production. All these solve the issues of security, employment, and financial flows for Armenia.
With all these, I think, RF also shows that Armenia remains in the focus of its attention and interest stressing that Armenia is the only reliable partner for RF in consideration of complex processes in the region.
– Approximately ten years ago when “Property against debts” was signed the officials of Armenia, again with enthusiasm, were presenting the interests and expected benefits of our country. As a result, those factories until now are idle. What are the guarantees?
– In this case nothing is given against debt, but joint management infrastructures will be set up, where we have the power to make decisions. As for the previous deal, although many things are out of my part of responsibilities, but I came up with this initiative, and in the nearest future we will be also exploring the potential of those enterprises. Some of them to some extent are working, they pay taxes to the state budget, but the fact that it is not what we expected, it’s clear. We’ll get involved in them in the near future.
Interviewer Nelly GRIGORYAN
