OFFICIAL YEREVAN'S NEW AMBITION
JAMES HAKOBYAN
16:48 18/12/2012
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28448
Addressing the RPA election congress, candidate for president Serzh
Sargsyan made an interesting statement about the military forces of
Armenia. In general, the army issue was emphasized in his speech. The
speech contained evident messages to his rivals. Serzh Sargsyan
made it clear that one of the pillars of the upcoming presidential
elections will be the army.
The most interesting statement on the army, which was addressed not
only to local but also foreign figures, was the following: "The Armed
Forces of Armenia won't engage in the consumptive and passive defense,
since they will able to ensure security in and out of our region with
the help of their mobility and combat readiness which already started
by the excellent fulfillment of duties of the Armenian peacekeepers
all over the world".
Actually, this is the first time the official Yerevan declares the
regional role of the Armenian Armed Forces moreover not in defensive
but initiative aspect. In other words, this statement hints that the
Armenian army will be one of the vital tools for Armenia's foreign
political and regional ambitions.
It is especially interesting that Serzh Sargsyan recalls: "...which
already started by the excellent fulfillment of duties of the Armenian
peacekeepers all over the world". This part is essential since it
ensures the legitimacy of the ambitions of official Yerevan.
Sure, first of all, it is necessary to state that these ambitions
have nothing in common with the current situation in the army.
Non-statutory relations, corruption from bottom to the upper ranks,
businessmen-generals, regular tragedies determined by these issues -
all this not only can't promote the spread of security in and out of
the region, but is the first obstacle to it.
But in strategic terms, Armenia has no other way but to solve these
issues and prepare the ground to render the army a vital political
tool. The issue is that it is one of the few tools of the Armenian
factors which must be used. More, those resources are two: human in
terms of ideas and innovative potential and, spirit - in the sense
of the combat readiness of the army.
The Armenian army can become the harmonic platform where the two
potentials meet and become really efficient army. It is necessary
if Armenia intends to become a regional strategic subject and not
an object. The innovative thought of Armenia should be used not only
for the economy, but also for the technological modernization of the
armed forces.
Moreover, in this sense, the Armenian army may become one of the
stimulators of the Armenian innovation. For this, it is necessary
to ensure the change of the hagiographic culture in the army which
means staff changes, up to the generals. The Armenian army needs new
officers, who won't think about personal interest, but also the army
issues and officers' dignity. The Armenian army needs to become an
adequate brain center for regional and geopolitical developments.
Armenia has no alternative because the economic-political development
is not enough to be dominant in Caucasus and for dictating the rules.
In Caucasus Armenia will either dictate rules, or will always have
to be agree with the rules imposed on it.
Besides, it is necessary to change intensively the rules inside the
country, including in the armed forces. It is not about one-two years,
maybe one-two decades, but everything develops very fast in the modern
world, and one-two wasted years will be equal to one-two decades in
the future.
JAMES HAKOBYAN
16:48 18/12/2012
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28448
Addressing the RPA election congress, candidate for president Serzh
Sargsyan made an interesting statement about the military forces of
Armenia. In general, the army issue was emphasized in his speech. The
speech contained evident messages to his rivals. Serzh Sargsyan
made it clear that one of the pillars of the upcoming presidential
elections will be the army.
The most interesting statement on the army, which was addressed not
only to local but also foreign figures, was the following: "The Armed
Forces of Armenia won't engage in the consumptive and passive defense,
since they will able to ensure security in and out of our region with
the help of their mobility and combat readiness which already started
by the excellent fulfillment of duties of the Armenian peacekeepers
all over the world".
Actually, this is the first time the official Yerevan declares the
regional role of the Armenian Armed Forces moreover not in defensive
but initiative aspect. In other words, this statement hints that the
Armenian army will be one of the vital tools for Armenia's foreign
political and regional ambitions.
It is especially interesting that Serzh Sargsyan recalls: "...which
already started by the excellent fulfillment of duties of the Armenian
peacekeepers all over the world". This part is essential since it
ensures the legitimacy of the ambitions of official Yerevan.
Sure, first of all, it is necessary to state that these ambitions
have nothing in common with the current situation in the army.
Non-statutory relations, corruption from bottom to the upper ranks,
businessmen-generals, regular tragedies determined by these issues -
all this not only can't promote the spread of security in and out of
the region, but is the first obstacle to it.
But in strategic terms, Armenia has no other way but to solve these
issues and prepare the ground to render the army a vital political
tool. The issue is that it is one of the few tools of the Armenian
factors which must be used. More, those resources are two: human in
terms of ideas and innovative potential and, spirit - in the sense
of the combat readiness of the army.
The Armenian army can become the harmonic platform where the two
potentials meet and become really efficient army. It is necessary
if Armenia intends to become a regional strategic subject and not
an object. The innovative thought of Armenia should be used not only
for the economy, but also for the technological modernization of the
armed forces.
Moreover, in this sense, the Armenian army may become one of the
stimulators of the Armenian innovation. For this, it is necessary
to ensure the change of the hagiographic culture in the army which
means staff changes, up to the generals. The Armenian army needs new
officers, who won't think about personal interest, but also the army
issues and officers' dignity. The Armenian army needs to become an
adequate brain center for regional and geopolitical developments.
Armenia has no alternative because the economic-political development
is not enough to be dominant in Caucasus and for dictating the rules.
In Caucasus Armenia will either dictate rules, or will always have
to be agree with the rules imposed on it.
Besides, it is necessary to change intensively the rules inside the
country, including in the armed forces. It is not about one-two years,
maybe one-two decades, but everything develops very fast in the modern
world, and one-two wasted years will be equal to one-two decades in
the future.