RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN: ARMED FORCES OF ARMENIA AND NKR ARE THE MOST POWERFUL IN THE REGION
armradio.am
16.06.2010 17:33
The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
convened a roundtable discussion today focusing on the regional balance
of power, with presentations on defense reform and civil-military
relations in Turkey and Azerbaijan, as well as a look at these issues
in Georgia and Iran.
ACNIS Director of Administration Dr. Karapet Kalenchian presented a
brief introduction of the issues of defense reform and the military
balance of power in the South Caucasus, which he said "demonstrated
the significance of discussing and analyzing the latest developments
in regional security." Dr. Kalenchian added that the "current dynamic
nature of defense reform and civil-military relations in Turkey and
Azerbaijan represented a challenge to Armenia's national security,
calling for greater attention and study."
Levon Hovsepian, an expert on Turkey from the Institute of Political
Research in the Presidential Administration, then presented a detailed
study of the issues of defense reform and civil-military relations
in Turkey. Hovsepian, who recently published a book on the Turkish
military, began with an analysis of the evolution of Turkey's defense
and security policy and continued by adding that "Turkey has become a
security state" in many aspects. He also stressed that Turkey was now
seeking to build its "soft power" and become "a security provider"
in the region, but was also "conducting defense reform in line with
its attempt to join the European Union."
ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian presented an analysis examining
recent trends in the broader region, with a focus on the status of
defense reform in Azerbaijan. Most notably, he stressed that despite
Azerbaijan's inflated defense spending, the real test was how they use
the money, adding that "the Azerbaijani armed forces remains at the
heart of corruption." He also added an assessment of the Azerbaijani
and Georgian armed forces.
ACNIS Senior Analyst Manvel Sargsian closed the event by noting that
military force was only one of the crucial elements for the balance
of power, adding that "other factors, such as democracy, the rule of
law, and political stability were equally important."
From: A. Papazian
armradio.am
16.06.2010 17:33
The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
convened a roundtable discussion today focusing on the regional balance
of power, with presentations on defense reform and civil-military
relations in Turkey and Azerbaijan, as well as a look at these issues
in Georgia and Iran.
ACNIS Director of Administration Dr. Karapet Kalenchian presented a
brief introduction of the issues of defense reform and the military
balance of power in the South Caucasus, which he said "demonstrated
the significance of discussing and analyzing the latest developments
in regional security." Dr. Kalenchian added that the "current dynamic
nature of defense reform and civil-military relations in Turkey and
Azerbaijan represented a challenge to Armenia's national security,
calling for greater attention and study."
Levon Hovsepian, an expert on Turkey from the Institute of Political
Research in the Presidential Administration, then presented a detailed
study of the issues of defense reform and civil-military relations
in Turkey. Hovsepian, who recently published a book on the Turkish
military, began with an analysis of the evolution of Turkey's defense
and security policy and continued by adding that "Turkey has become a
security state" in many aspects. He also stressed that Turkey was now
seeking to build its "soft power" and become "a security provider"
in the region, but was also "conducting defense reform in line with
its attempt to join the European Union."
ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian presented an analysis examining
recent trends in the broader region, with a focus on the status of
defense reform in Azerbaijan. Most notably, he stressed that despite
Azerbaijan's inflated defense spending, the real test was how they use
the money, adding that "the Azerbaijani armed forces remains at the
heart of corruption." He also added an assessment of the Azerbaijani
and Georgian armed forces.
ACNIS Senior Analyst Manvel Sargsian closed the event by noting that
military force was only one of the crucial elements for the balance
of power, adding that "other factors, such as democracy, the rule of
law, and political stability were equally important."
From: A. Papazian