Accusations do not correspond to facts of analysis by Ministry of Defense
Mher Israyelyan, Deputy Chief of the Department of Defense Policy of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia spoke on “Armenia-NATO Defense and Military Cooperation”, who first and foremost addressed to the speeches and assessments made earlier. The analysis on April War by the Ministry of Defense is strictly confidential, is not subject to publicization and Mr. Israyelyan told solely that the accusations voiced in media and some reports simply do not correspond to the facts in the analysis. “Assuredly, we will take lessons from all that, but the character of the shortcomings is more different than what is represented to the society.” Mher Israyelyan does not share the opinion implying that after the April War mass dismissals have taken place, although a number of officials have changed within a year – deputy ministers, department chiefs, according to him, those changes were connected with domestic policy processes more than with the consequences of April War. As far as the minister of defense being a civilian is concerned, the Ministry of Defense official mentioned that traditionally the minister of defense has been a civilian in Armenia, it is another question that they have had a military past, simply we should not mention civilian as a new concept now, but the party member becoming minister for the first time, which, as stated by Mher Israyelyan is linked with mostly the constitutional changes, the strengthening of party governance principle and by the appointment of Vigen Sargsyan, the authorities pursue a goal to increase the level of political responsibility in ruling the Military Forces.
Mher Israyelyan also finds that the Military Forces of the Republic of Armenia today, especially after the April War, carry out not a defense strategy as much as containment strategy which encompasses not only capacities of defensive-strategic character but includes defensive – federative, partnership, security provision systems alike.
As to the accusations of corruption cases in the Military Forces, although Mher Israyelyan noted that certain grounds had been in place for such assessments, he did not want to go further into details on it.
The Republic of Armenia has more troops in Afghanistan than 20 members of NATO and more in Kosovo, than the Great Britain
Touching upon Armenia-NATO partnership, Mher Israyelyan mentioned that it has a strategic significance to Armenia which is stipulated similarly in our National Security Strategy adopted still 10 years ago and political dialogue with NATO is the important component of the national security of the Republic of Armenia. He evaluated Armenia-NATO cooperation as a productive one representing the fields of cooperation, Armenia’s participation in manifold NATO missions. “Armenia has more troops, for example, in Afghanistan, than 20 members of NATO, or Armenia has more troops in Kosovo, than a major country like the Great Britain, which is one of the important military members of NATO. Besides participation in the operations, the Republic of Armenia has a very large agenda on defense and security partnership with NATO, we take part in NATO military trainings and have even hosted NATO military trainings in Armenia twice – in 2003 and 2008. The Republic of Armenia takes part in military trainings in bilateral format as well, we particularly have an active participation in a set of military trainings organized by the United States European Command, as well as in approximately 100 events, exercises, courses, conferences that promote the development of our partnership.”
Mher Israyelyan also made a remarkable historical reference to NATO military trainings, reminding us of military trainings to be held in Azerbaijan in 2004, however, at the very last moment, despite troops comprised of hundreds of militaries had arrived in Baku, the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, who was an American, made a decision to annul the military exercises inasmuch as Baku created obstacles for the Armenian representatives to participate and NATO, considering the principle of the inclusion of all countries as violated, made a political decision to annul Baku military exercises.
“Turkey has never created serious obstacles for Armenia-NATO partnership development, there has been no rebuke for Armenia’s participation in any NATO program from the Turkish side and you understand yourselves that NATO is an institution which operates based on consensus principle and if Turkey wanted, the Republic of Armenia would not be able to participate in NATO programs, including NATO operations, forasmuch as the Republic of Armenia as a participant country is recognized by NATO Council and one of its members is Turkey”, Mher Israyelyan made such a remarkable overview.
Emma GABRIELYAN
