RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan does not see any grounds for reviewing the terms of Russian military base in Armenia
– During the past year, when the issue of Armenia’s membership to the Eurasian Economic Union was discussed, the representatives of the ruling class as a primary prerequisite pointed out Armenia’s security. After Armenia’s membership to the EaEU, our neighbor Azerbaijan began to behave more irrepressible. And strategic partner Russia’s actions, in particular, continuing sales of weapons to Azerbaijan and various political statements voiced by Russian officials prove that Russia is also supporting Azerbaijan in its irrepressible behavior. The Gyumri incident seems to leaving an impact upon the Armenian-Russian relations. It turns out that Armenia is less protected in the EaEU than before.
– The formation of the security system by the EaEU membership refers to the formation of the global system. In other words, to supplementing respective structures with arms and military equipment in the result of studying the environment and assessing the threat, as well as to the formation of the system within the international partnership in the result of formation of international guarantees. In this aspect, the process is constantly underway. Continuous support by Russia to Armenia within the military-technical cooperation is permanent. Also, it cannot be a cause for criticism. As for the border tensions, it is the Azerbaijani adopted policy. Eventually, the EaEU is not a military-political structure, but an economic structure. CSTO is a military-political structure. In the framework of Russia’s military cooperation with Armenia and the presence of the Russian military base solve much more global problem by ensuring security, especially from the Turkey border. We do not have any problems with Azerbaijan. Pertaining to supply of arms and military equipment to Azerbaijan by Russia, of course, concerns every Armenian, as well as the RA defense minister. I think we are raising this issue in different places. Well, it is quite clear that in addition to voicing, we are unable to affect their actions. And the Gyumri incident can no way affect neither the Armenian-Russian relations, nor the sovereignty of Armenia. We have much deeper and long-term partnership problems. Ultimately, we are strategic partners.
– Under CSTO, has the Armenian side raised the issue of sales of arms to Azerbaijan by Russia? What were the responses?
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– We have not talked about it under CSTO.
– A day before, the RA Foreign Minister said that the department under his supervision applied to the international structures, including military, including the CSTO on the matter of tension in the Armenian-Azerbaijani and Nagorno-Karabakh-Azerbaijani border. Has the RA Defense Ministry discussed this issue under CSTO?
– Each structure fulfills its task. The RA Foreign Ministry carries out the tasks assigned to it, trying to affect the opponent in the political field by respective notes. The speech of the president of the country was within this context too. Today, the task of our Defense Minitry is to be prepared. If all these methods do not affect, we undoubtedly are always ready.
– In other words, doesn’t Armenia need to apply to CSTO for assistance in relations with Azerbaijan?
– There is no need to appeal to CSTO for assistance in relationships with Azerbaijan, it is apparent by our actions, although we are having losses. Eternal glory and low bows in the memory of them and to their relatives. Anyway, I think that the spirit of the Armenian army is so high that also the soldiers, officers, and contract soldiers are ready to defend our homeland at the expense of their lives.
– No matter how much importance is given to the existence of the Russian base in Gyumri, however, it is also a fact that there is a problem of internal rules and regulations in the military base. We have witnessed it repeatedly. At least in this respect, is the Armenian planning to litigate the terms of existence of the military base?
– We have estimated today’s reality and potentials of the Russian military base. The military base is upgraded on yearly base, and new weapons are sent here, and the current command treats more duteously. Such a gap in the discipline is a different thing, about which, I think, the Russian Defense Ministry is working out. They have conducted a service investigation, and they will make appropriate decisions. I do not want to praise the military base leadership, but Colonel Ruzinsky is a leader with highest willingness and commitment to work.
– And as to the fact that despite the voicing of the Armenian side as you say, Russia keeps selling quite a large number of offensive weapons to Azerbaijan, so whether this does not provide grounds for the Armenian side to review the terms of the existence of the Russian military base. Let at least all the expenses for the existence of the Russian military base that are covered by Armenia be put on the Russian side, in contrast to relations adopted in the civilized world.
– It does not provide any grounds for review, as all the payments that are made are implemented under the previously existing “Property for debt” program. In the past, we have brought a fairly large amount of weapons, and paying the military expenditures, in reality, we repay this amount.
– Hasn’t this military equipment lost its relevance?
– No. Among other military equipment, also tanks were brought, with which we rank the second today.
– A day before, at the Defense Ministry Advisory Board meeting, President Serzh Sargsyan referring to the posture of Azerbaijan made quite tough reverses, in particularly noting, “Until recently, the response actions of ours have been symmetric in form and asymmetric in terms of inflicting more damage. From now on actions of retaliation asymmetric in form may also take place. The hotheaded have to expect countless surprises. Furthermore, in case we register a larger and more threatening accumulation of forces across our borders and the line of contact, we reserve the right to commit a preemptive strike.” Does this mean that the threat for large-scale hostilities is real?
– I think that there is always a threat for large-scale hostilities, but today’s reality is not talking about it. Simply put, there is a cease-fire agreement that is not implemented, and it makes us angry. We have agreed to maintain a cease-fire, and they are adding tension year-by-year. What the President wanted to say is that either we maintain the ceasefire or not get offended.
– You also share the opinion that by keeping the borders in tension, Azerbaijan solves two problems, to divert its public attention from domestic problems, and provoke the international community to go for political concessions. Opinions are voiced from Azerbaijan that the tension on the border is also advantageous to Armenia’s political leadership, as the socio-economic problems in our country, to put it mildly, are not less too.
– The president’s speech clearly showed that we are not for escalation of the situation, but we also would not tolerate when they try to create tension. Especially since we have casualties in the frontline. Nothing of the type has ever happened in the practice of our military-political leadership that we deviate something at the expense of the life of our soldier. A lot of things may happen inside, but the soldier’s life, the human life is most precious to us, and Armenia is headed to the ultimate formation of the human-centered army. For us, currently the soldier is not only a resource, but an individual who with his selfless actions defends the homeland, from whom everything is depended.
Interviewed by Nelly GRIGORYAN
