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Seyran Ohanyan: Hero Or Anti-Hero
Serzh Sargsyan `decided' to reappoint Seyran Ohanyan as minister of
defense during the latter's official visit to Lithuania. This could be
a symbolic coincidence. Lithuania is a NATO and EU member state acting
as a links between Armenia and the West. This is an unwritten function
carried out by Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, as well as Saakashvili's
Georgia.
It is symbolic in terms of the challenges to the Armed Forces of
Armenia. The Armenian army needs modernization of not only military
equipment but also its values which is just as important as arms.
In this sense, the Armenian army needs to replace the Soviet Russian
system of values by a system the core of which is the soldier, an
individual, who would not only defend the citizens but also his own
security would be a national priority.
In this sense, NATO could be a good partner of the Armenian army. Its
members are countries which have the biggest achievements along with
numerous shortcomings. In this sense, it is symbolic that Seyran
Ohanyan takes on his second term during negotiations with NATO member
Lithuania.
At the same time, Ohanyan's `second term' coincides with tragic
symbolism. Yesterday another conscript was shot dead in the army. This
news underlines the necessity of an immediate solution of issues
otherwise the Armenian army will gloriously fail its regional mission
at the same time closing de facto the page of the Armenian statehood.
Most probably, Seyran Ohanyan realizes that statements like the number
of non-combat victims in the army is reduced are not helpful because
while statistics is decreasing, challenges are growing, so do claims
to the army leadership.
At the same time, the situation in the army is complicated, there are
different interests and stakeholders in the top leadership of the army
and the interests of most of them do not match with the interests of
the state. Is Seyran Ohanyan able to solve this issue? This is only
one aspect of the question. First, it is necessary to find out whether
Serzh Sargsyan has or will put forth such a political priority.
We can see Serzh Sargsyan's recent actions aimed at building a state
based on army and police. In other words, he is trying to legitimize
the force grounds of the power removing the oligarchs with their armed
and criminalized groups.
Serzh Sargsyan marked this start of his second term with a scandalous
dismissal in the police. Chief of Police of Yerevan was removed due to
his `coalescence with business'. Actually, Serzh Sargsyan tried to
highlight that oligarchy will not be accepted in the field of law
enforcement which will be used against the oligarchic segment of the
government.
Hardly anyone will deny that there is coalescence of business and
government in the army as well. Without solving this issue the
breakthrough will be impossible. Without it the Armenian army will
lack one of the most important weapons.
The Commander-in-Chief must focus on this issue over the next five
years even if the aim is to strengthen his own foothold. Nevertheless
modernization of the army is urgent.
It is evident that the army leadership is composed of half-literate
people who are only able to count the money in their pocket and to
carry out their function as field veterans can't be adequate to the
aforementioned issues. They need to retire sure if the abuses they
committed can be forgiven, which is quite doubtful. They are not
generals, they are merchants who identify their shoulder straps with
their bank accounts. Business without general's shoulder straps would
mean a punishment to them.
During the past five years Serzh Sargsyan and Seyran Ohanyan did not
provide any solution that could be convincing for the society in
systemic terms. Even the simple issue of an attentive attitude towards
the parents and relatives of non-combat victims was not solved, no
matter how much they take your time and patience. After all, someone
seized and keeps seizing the lives of their children in the army.
Seyran Ohanyan will of course be remembered as a war hero but he can
also remain in history also as a hero of peace time if he achieves a
breakthrough in the army during his second time as defense minister.
The war has given many heroes to Armenia, while peace, unfortunately,
has given only anti-heroes so far.
HAKOB BADALYAN
10:53 20/04/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/29678
From: Baghdasarian
Serzh Sargsyan `decided' to reappoint Seyran Ohanyan as minister of
defense during the latter's official visit to Lithuania. This could be
a symbolic coincidence. Lithuania is a NATO and EU member state acting
as a links between Armenia and the West. This is an unwritten function
carried out by Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, as well as Saakashvili's
Georgia.
It is symbolic in terms of the challenges to the Armed Forces of
Armenia. The Armenian army needs modernization of not only military
equipment but also its values which is just as important as arms.
In this sense, the Armenian army needs to replace the Soviet Russian
system of values by a system the core of which is the soldier, an
individual, who would not only defend the citizens but also his own
security would be a national priority.
In this sense, NATO could be a good partner of the Armenian army. Its
members are countries which have the biggest achievements along with
numerous shortcomings. In this sense, it is symbolic that Seyran
Ohanyan takes on his second term during negotiations with NATO member
Lithuania.
At the same time, Ohanyan's `second term' coincides with tragic
symbolism. Yesterday another conscript was shot dead in the army. This
news underlines the necessity of an immediate solution of issues
otherwise the Armenian army will gloriously fail its regional mission
at the same time closing de facto the page of the Armenian statehood.
Most probably, Seyran Ohanyan realizes that statements like the number
of non-combat victims in the army is reduced are not helpful because
while statistics is decreasing, challenges are growing, so do claims
to the army leadership.
At the same time, the situation in the army is complicated, there are
different interests and stakeholders in the top leadership of the army
and the interests of most of them do not match with the interests of
the state. Is Seyran Ohanyan able to solve this issue? This is only
one aspect of the question. First, it is necessary to find out whether
Serzh Sargsyan has or will put forth such a political priority.
We can see Serzh Sargsyan's recent actions aimed at building a state
based on army and police. In other words, he is trying to legitimize
the force grounds of the power removing the oligarchs with their armed
and criminalized groups.
Serzh Sargsyan marked this start of his second term with a scandalous
dismissal in the police. Chief of Police of Yerevan was removed due to
his `coalescence with business'. Actually, Serzh Sargsyan tried to
highlight that oligarchy will not be accepted in the field of law
enforcement which will be used against the oligarchic segment of the
government.
Hardly anyone will deny that there is coalescence of business and
government in the army as well. Without solving this issue the
breakthrough will be impossible. Without it the Armenian army will
lack one of the most important weapons.
The Commander-in-Chief must focus on this issue over the next five
years even if the aim is to strengthen his own foothold. Nevertheless
modernization of the army is urgent.
It is evident that the army leadership is composed of half-literate
people who are only able to count the money in their pocket and to
carry out their function as field veterans can't be adequate to the
aforementioned issues. They need to retire sure if the abuses they
committed can be forgiven, which is quite doubtful. They are not
generals, they are merchants who identify their shoulder straps with
their bank accounts. Business without general's shoulder straps would
mean a punishment to them.
During the past five years Serzh Sargsyan and Seyran Ohanyan did not
provide any solution that could be convincing for the society in
systemic terms. Even the simple issue of an attentive attitude towards
the parents and relatives of non-combat victims was not solved, no
matter how much they take your time and patience. After all, someone
seized and keeps seizing the lives of their children in the army.
Seyran Ohanyan will of course be remembered as a war hero but he can
also remain in history also as a hero of peace time if he achieves a
breakthrough in the army during his second time as defense minister.
The war has given many heroes to Armenia, while peace, unfortunately,
has given only anti-heroes so far.
HAKOB BADALYAN
10:53 20/04/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/29678
From: Baghdasarian