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ARMENIA NEEDS TO INTEGRATE INTO NATO
Siranuysh Papyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview25477.html
Published: 16:07:33 - 16/03/2012
Interview with Arthur Sakunts, Head of Vanadzor office Helsinki
Association, member of Army in reality initiative on Armenia-NATO
relations
Mr. Sakunts, the Armenian programs implemented with NATO, according
to the Defense Minister of Armenia, are of systemic nature and are
related to the defense reforms in Armenia. Are these reforms realistic?
This is the only chance in the process of implementation of reforms
in the Armed Forces of Armenia since there is no other possibility of
fulfilling reforms. The CSTO is built on the Russian military model
and has nothing to propose even to its country of origin - Russia.
There is much concern, over the situation, many deaths and corruption
in the Armed Forces of Russia. In this sense, it cannot be an
alternative, this is just the continuation of the Soviet model. In this
sense, NATO is the only alternative the only possibility. For example,
the model of participation of NATO International Peace Forces mission
which is the result of the internal military atmosphere, the behavior
and mission.
Seyran Ohanyan has recently met with NATO leadership and discussed
the reforms in the Armed Forces of Armenia. Have you recorded any
progress in this sphere? Is there wish to carry out reforms or they
are of formal character?
All the talks on reforms by the defense minister are only talks. The
situation is not changing moreover, it is more complicated now and
the challenges which I've publicly raised on the provision of number
in the Armed Forces, preservation of disciplinary rules, dominance of
law, reduction of death cases, breach of regulatory relations, we have
no progress in this relations. Saying that reforms are carried out is
more like a diplomatic statement than reality. In the end, in terms of
the military planning, NATO supposes for a very open planning, while
here we have no idea of the criteria of determining the number of the
armed forces and equipment. NATO has clear measurements, while we fail
to solve issues relating to the Internal Disciplinary Code. For two
years they say it will be adopted, but it has not been adopted by now,
even the principles on the human rights or protection of soldiers'
rights and human behavior towards them are not ensured. All this
fits the rough hierarchic subordination system. In other words,
the minister of defense can't present an argument proving reforms
are being carried out, while statements that reforms are necessary
mean nothing unless the reforms are held.
Does the membership to CSTO give us any security guarantees? Is it
right to refuse it?
CSTO will give us nothing, CSTO will give nothing even to the Russian
Armed Forces. Looking at the CSTO member countries, you can see all
of them are authoritarian. We saw the use of the Armed Forces for
internal issues. They are even discussing now the use of CSTO forces
for crisis situations in the member counties of the organization. This
means that the CSTO has nothing to propose in terms of democracy
and security but only ensures power guarantees to the authoritarian
governments. It is not directed to the peace, to resisting all the
challenges of the world, but to the strengthening of mechanisms to
solve internal political issues. In this sense, Armenia needs to
liberate and integrate into NATO, since this is the most important
security guarantee of Armenia.
NATO is an example of solution of global issues. For this, I think
Armenia needs to take NATO as it main security guarantor.
Siranuysh Papyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview25477.html
Published: 16:07:33 - 16/03/2012
Interview with Arthur Sakunts, Head of Vanadzor office Helsinki
Association, member of Army in reality initiative on Armenia-NATO
relations
Mr. Sakunts, the Armenian programs implemented with NATO, according
to the Defense Minister of Armenia, are of systemic nature and are
related to the defense reforms in Armenia. Are these reforms realistic?
This is the only chance in the process of implementation of reforms
in the Armed Forces of Armenia since there is no other possibility of
fulfilling reforms. The CSTO is built on the Russian military model
and has nothing to propose even to its country of origin - Russia.
There is much concern, over the situation, many deaths and corruption
in the Armed Forces of Russia. In this sense, it cannot be an
alternative, this is just the continuation of the Soviet model. In this
sense, NATO is the only alternative the only possibility. For example,
the model of participation of NATO International Peace Forces mission
which is the result of the internal military atmosphere, the behavior
and mission.
Seyran Ohanyan has recently met with NATO leadership and discussed
the reforms in the Armed Forces of Armenia. Have you recorded any
progress in this sphere? Is there wish to carry out reforms or they
are of formal character?
All the talks on reforms by the defense minister are only talks. The
situation is not changing moreover, it is more complicated now and
the challenges which I've publicly raised on the provision of number
in the Armed Forces, preservation of disciplinary rules, dominance of
law, reduction of death cases, breach of regulatory relations, we have
no progress in this relations. Saying that reforms are carried out is
more like a diplomatic statement than reality. In the end, in terms of
the military planning, NATO supposes for a very open planning, while
here we have no idea of the criteria of determining the number of the
armed forces and equipment. NATO has clear measurements, while we fail
to solve issues relating to the Internal Disciplinary Code. For two
years they say it will be adopted, but it has not been adopted by now,
even the principles on the human rights or protection of soldiers'
rights and human behavior towards them are not ensured. All this
fits the rough hierarchic subordination system. In other words,
the minister of defense can't present an argument proving reforms
are being carried out, while statements that reforms are necessary
mean nothing unless the reforms are held.
Does the membership to CSTO give us any security guarantees? Is it
right to refuse it?
CSTO will give us nothing, CSTO will give nothing even to the Russian
Armed Forces. Looking at the CSTO member countries, you can see all
of them are authoritarian. We saw the use of the Armed Forces for
internal issues. They are even discussing now the use of CSTO forces
for crisis situations in the member counties of the organization. This
means that the CSTO has nothing to propose in terms of democracy
and security but only ensures power guarantees to the authoritarian
governments. It is not directed to the peace, to resisting all the
challenges of the world, but to the strengthening of mechanisms to
solve internal political issues. In this sense, Armenia needs to
liberate and integrate into NATO, since this is the most important
security guarantee of Armenia.
NATO is an example of solution of global issues. For this, I think
Armenia needs to take NATO as it main security guarantor.