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'FOREIGN DOGS' VS. ARMENIAN ARMY: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST RESPONDS TO DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER
epress.am
10.17.2011 15:06
I'm not from Vanadzor, I'm from Karabakh, Artur Sakunts (pictured),
coordinator of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly (HCA) Vanadzor
office, told Epress.am, commenting on televised joint Armenian Public
Television and RA Ministry of Defense video footage aired on Saturday
in which a reporter repeatedly refers to Sakunts as "that Vanadzor
guy" and states that those who have publicly criticized the Armenian
army are financed from abroad.
The reporter's statements were echoed by RA Deputy Defense Minister
Vladimir Gasparyan, who said in a televised interview: "Some groups
have made appropriate and inappropriate criticism of the army their
everyday occupation. How a person's heart can ache for the army of
a country when funding and salaries are received from other countries!
How a person's heart can ache when he thinks that the more scandalous,
the worse an incident, the better it is because he can make even more
money! These people have no homeland, no dignity. Among them are some
who have never even come close to approaching the army.
"A few days ago, I was reading one of these group's statement in the
newspaper where they are demanding this, this and that information
associated with thousands of conscripts. Darlings, what other orders
have your clients given, to find out from our army? Perhaps we should
publish the entire list and go stand in line in front of the most
motley [crew of] foreign funds?" the deputy defense minister said
in particular.
Speaking to Epress.am, Sakunts said that he never watches H1 (Armenia's
Public TV channel) but hearing about the video, watched a repeat of
the program.
"First, let them know that I not from Vanadzor, I'm from Karabakh,"
he said laughingly. "And then, he - Vova [Vladimir] Gasparyan -
has very serious issues in his appointed [position] and I would
advise that he hang his head and work on all those cases which we,
our office, has presented: this refers to the manners prevalent in the
army, the prevailing situation, about which there have been numerous
notices. He is directly responsible for these.
"Vova Gasparyan has no idea what it means to have civilian control. A
few centuries ago, his remarks would have been qualified as a witch
hunt, but he probably doesn't know that this idea is already expired
and no longer useful," he said.
Sakunts added that during the the program when Gasparyan publicly
declares that "those who consider the army's officer corps and its
leadership are weak are dogs," it's easy to imagine how the deputy
defense minister speaks and relates to army draftees and subordinates.
From: Baghdasarian
epress.am
10.17.2011 15:06
I'm not from Vanadzor, I'm from Karabakh, Artur Sakunts (pictured),
coordinator of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly (HCA) Vanadzor
office, told Epress.am, commenting on televised joint Armenian Public
Television and RA Ministry of Defense video footage aired on Saturday
in which a reporter repeatedly refers to Sakunts as "that Vanadzor
guy" and states that those who have publicly criticized the Armenian
army are financed from abroad.
The reporter's statements were echoed by RA Deputy Defense Minister
Vladimir Gasparyan, who said in a televised interview: "Some groups
have made appropriate and inappropriate criticism of the army their
everyday occupation. How a person's heart can ache for the army of
a country when funding and salaries are received from other countries!
How a person's heart can ache when he thinks that the more scandalous,
the worse an incident, the better it is because he can make even more
money! These people have no homeland, no dignity. Among them are some
who have never even come close to approaching the army.
"A few days ago, I was reading one of these group's statement in the
newspaper where they are demanding this, this and that information
associated with thousands of conscripts. Darlings, what other orders
have your clients given, to find out from our army? Perhaps we should
publish the entire list and go stand in line in front of the most
motley [crew of] foreign funds?" the deputy defense minister said
in particular.
Speaking to Epress.am, Sakunts said that he never watches H1 (Armenia's
Public TV channel) but hearing about the video, watched a repeat of
the program.
"First, let them know that I not from Vanadzor, I'm from Karabakh,"
he said laughingly. "And then, he - Vova [Vladimir] Gasparyan -
has very serious issues in his appointed [position] and I would
advise that he hang his head and work on all those cases which we,
our office, has presented: this refers to the manners prevalent in the
army, the prevailing situation, about which there have been numerous
notices. He is directly responsible for these.
"Vova Gasparyan has no idea what it means to have civilian control. A
few centuries ago, his remarks would have been qualified as a witch
hunt, but he probably doesn't know that this idea is already expired
and no longer useful," he said.
Sakunts added that during the the program when Gasparyan publicly
declares that "those who consider the army's officer corps and its
leadership are weak are dogs," it's easy to imagine how the deputy
defense minister speaks and relates to army draftees and subordinates.
From: Baghdasarian