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TEVAN POGHOSYAN: DEFENSE REFORMS WILL MAKE THE ARMY MORE POWERFUL
Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 20 2006
The reforms envisaged by the Individual Partnership Actions Plan
(IPAP) with NATO will endorse the development of the Armenian army,
Executive Director of the Armenian Atlantic Association Tevan Poghosyan
said in an interview with Mediamax agency.
"The IPAP envisages creation of a tighter link between the army and
society, apply the mechanism of public control. In my opinion, in
the result of such changes the army will get more powerful, since
people's faith and trust in the armed forces will increase," Tevan
Poghosyan said.
"More coordinated and precise planning of defense expenses envisaged
by IPAP will promote the optimizing of our army, which can have only
positive impact. Thus, we can say with confidence that the reforms
envisaged are in no way directed at weakening of the army," Tevan
Poghosyan noted.
In response to the question about the opportunities of implementing
equal defense reforms in Armenia and Azerbaijan, he noted that
"Azerbaijan has its own actions plan with NATO, which envisages
conduct of similar reforms."
"Today we can state that a parallel process is underway in Armenia
and Azerbaijan. I think NATO will be more interested in having a
situation, where the armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan will be
more predictable for the alliance," Tevan Poghosyan said.
The Executive Director of the Armenian Atlantic Association Tovmas
Poghosyan does not rule out that Armenia may become the first country
in the South Caucasus to join NATO and the European Union.
"It may seem incredible today. However, we must take into account
that both in regard to the value system and the reforms implemented
we are in a more advantageous position," Tevan Poghosyan said.
At the same time the expert noted that he does not consider membership
to NATO as an end in itself.
It is much more important for Armenia to correspond to those values
and standards, on which NATO is built, and it will be a high assessment
itself. It will mean that we are a developed, democratic and powerful
country," said Executive Director of the Armenian Atlantic Association.
Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 20 2006
The reforms envisaged by the Individual Partnership Actions Plan
(IPAP) with NATO will endorse the development of the Armenian army,
Executive Director of the Armenian Atlantic Association Tevan Poghosyan
said in an interview with Mediamax agency.
"The IPAP envisages creation of a tighter link between the army and
society, apply the mechanism of public control. In my opinion, in
the result of such changes the army will get more powerful, since
people's faith and trust in the armed forces will increase," Tevan
Poghosyan said.
"More coordinated and precise planning of defense expenses envisaged
by IPAP will promote the optimizing of our army, which can have only
positive impact. Thus, we can say with confidence that the reforms
envisaged are in no way directed at weakening of the army," Tevan
Poghosyan noted.
In response to the question about the opportunities of implementing
equal defense reforms in Armenia and Azerbaijan, he noted that
"Azerbaijan has its own actions plan with NATO, which envisages
conduct of similar reforms."
"Today we can state that a parallel process is underway in Armenia
and Azerbaijan. I think NATO will be more interested in having a
situation, where the armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan will be
more predictable for the alliance," Tevan Poghosyan said.
The Executive Director of the Armenian Atlantic Association Tovmas
Poghosyan does not rule out that Armenia may become the first country
in the South Caucasus to join NATO and the European Union.
"It may seem incredible today. However, we must take into account
that both in regard to the value system and the reforms implemented
we are in a more advantageous position," Tevan Poghosyan said.
At the same time the expert noted that he does not consider membership
to NATO as an end in itself.
It is much more important for Armenia to correspond to those values
and standards, on which NATO is built, and it will be a high assessment
itself. It will mean that we are a developed, democratic and powerful
country," said Executive Director of the Armenian Atlantic Association.