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DASHNAK LEADER CONDEMNS ARMY SHOOTINGS
http://www.armtown.com/news/en/rfe/20100805/2119822/
Thursday, 05 August 2010
RFE/RL -- A leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun) on Thursday strongly condemned the latest deadly
shootings in Armenia's Armed Forces and demanded "severe punishment"
for those responsible for them.
Speaking on behalf of the opposition party, Vahan Hovannisian
described as "unacceptable and disgraceful" the deaths of seven
military personnel in two non-combat incidents reported last week.
"We expect that there will be a fair investigation and the guilty will
get a fair and severe punishment," he told RFE/RL's Armenian service.
"We are confident that the defense minister is able to take drastic
steps on this matter. He is not only able but also obliged to do that."
Hovannisian, who heads the Dashnaktsutyun faction in the Armenian
parliament, refrained from commenting on preliminary official versions
of the shootings questioned by relatives of some of the victims,
notably Lieutenant Artak Nazarian.
Military investigators insist that Nazarian committed suicide after
being badly mistreated by fellow servicemen. Four of them are now
under arrest pending investigation. The officer's family believes
that he was killed.
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian has assured the grieving families that
"everything" is being done to solve the shootings that highlighted
chronic problems within the Armenian army. Ohanian and other military
officials have at the same time argued that the number of such
incidents has significantly declined since the late 1990s.
Hovannisian countered, however, that there was more "solidarity" and
"mutual respect" within the armed forces during the 1991-1994 war with
Azerbaijan and its aftermath. "At some point, the situation changed
because unacceptable and ugly practices began penetrating the army
from outside," he said.
"Brute force and the will of individuals with prison connections,
as opposed to army rules and discipline, started becoming prevalent
in the army. Of course, this is not a widespread phenomenon but it
is visible in some cases," added the Dashnaktsutyun leader.
Hovannisian noted that no army in the world is immune to abuses and
violations resulting non-combat deaths. "But all armies fight against
such phenomena," he said. "We are demanding such a fight from our
authorities and especially the Defense Ministry."
Another, more radical opposition force, the Armenian National
Congress (HAK), blamed on Monday the government for the "unhealthy
atmosphere and criminal practices reigning in the army." It said the
resignation of the ruling "criminal regime" is the only way to remedy
the situation.
Hovannisian was more cautious in that regard, saying that the Armenian
army is "very combat-ready" and with a "normal leadership." "It's just
that that leadership has committed mistakes and it must rectify them,"
he said.
From: A. Papazian
http://www.armtown.com/news/en/rfe/20100805/2119822/
Thursday, 05 August 2010
RFE/RL -- A leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun) on Thursday strongly condemned the latest deadly
shootings in Armenia's Armed Forces and demanded "severe punishment"
for those responsible for them.
Speaking on behalf of the opposition party, Vahan Hovannisian
described as "unacceptable and disgraceful" the deaths of seven
military personnel in two non-combat incidents reported last week.
"We expect that there will be a fair investigation and the guilty will
get a fair and severe punishment," he told RFE/RL's Armenian service.
"We are confident that the defense minister is able to take drastic
steps on this matter. He is not only able but also obliged to do that."
Hovannisian, who heads the Dashnaktsutyun faction in the Armenian
parliament, refrained from commenting on preliminary official versions
of the shootings questioned by relatives of some of the victims,
notably Lieutenant Artak Nazarian.
Military investigators insist that Nazarian committed suicide after
being badly mistreated by fellow servicemen. Four of them are now
under arrest pending investigation. The officer's family believes
that he was killed.
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian has assured the grieving families that
"everything" is being done to solve the shootings that highlighted
chronic problems within the Armenian army. Ohanian and other military
officials have at the same time argued that the number of such
incidents has significantly declined since the late 1990s.
Hovannisian countered, however, that there was more "solidarity" and
"mutual respect" within the armed forces during the 1991-1994 war with
Azerbaijan and its aftermath. "At some point, the situation changed
because unacceptable and ugly practices began penetrating the army
from outside," he said.
"Brute force and the will of individuals with prison connections,
as opposed to army rules and discipline, started becoming prevalent
in the army. Of course, this is not a widespread phenomenon but it
is visible in some cases," added the Dashnaktsutyun leader.
Hovannisian noted that no army in the world is immune to abuses and
violations resulting non-combat deaths. "But all armies fight against
such phenomena," he said. "We are demanding such a fight from our
authorities and especially the Defense Ministry."
Another, more radical opposition force, the Armenian National
Congress (HAK), blamed on Monday the government for the "unhealthy
atmosphere and criminal practices reigning in the army." It said the
resignation of the ruling "criminal regime" is the only way to remedy
the situation.
Hovannisian was more cautious in that regard, saying that the Armenian
army is "very combat-ready" and with a "normal leadership." "It's just
that that leadership has committed mistakes and it must rectify them,"
he said.
From: A. Papazian