HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IMPROVING IN ARMENIA'S ARMY - SEYRAN OHANYAN
15:06 * 10.12.14
This year has been a hard year for Nagorno-Karabakh and its Defense
Army, with acts of sabotage committed by Azerbaijan.
And under the circumstances, the task of the Defense Army command and
military units is not only defense, but also preventive measures,
Armenia's Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan told reporters on
Wednesday, following an event marking Human Rights Day.
As regards the situation on the border, Mr Ohanyan said:
"Tension is now heightened now lessened. The Nagorno-Karabakh Defense
Army and Armenia's army only retaliate against regular sniping. We
also try to prevent provocations."
"We are more inclined to take preventive measures because we do not
commit violations. However, we must adequately retaliate when our
neighbors commit violations, and their 'zeal' wanes when we retaliate."
With respect to the peace process within the OSCE Minsk Group,
Minister Ohanyan said:
"Political agreements are being implemented. But the tension is
accompanying different processes, particularly meetings, and it is an
attempt to press the Armenian side. And both the Artsakh war showed
that present-day experience show that our neighbors' attempt to show
their military might by means of arms race failed during this year's
provocations and does not have any effect on the Armenian side. The
conflict must get a peaceful and political settlement, in conformity
with all international norms."
As regards the Armenian helicopter downed on November 12, Minister
Ohanyan said that an investigation is under way.
In response to Tert.am's question concerning human rights protection
in Armenia's armed forces, Mr Ohanyan said:
"Due to the command of Armenia's armed forces, cooperation with the
Human Rights Defender and efforts to create oversight mechanisms,
human rights protection level is rising in Armenia's armed forces
day by day."
He pointed out two factors of success in defense - the man and arms.
"It means that the approach with a focus on individuals in Armenia's
armed forces is the best. We do not view soldiers as resource. Rather,
we consider them as factors that are supposed to develop in the armed
forces, with his rights and duties, to be educated as a worthy member
of society," Mr Ohanyan said.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/12/10/seyran/1531851
15:06 * 10.12.14
This year has been a hard year for Nagorno-Karabakh and its Defense
Army, with acts of sabotage committed by Azerbaijan.
And under the circumstances, the task of the Defense Army command and
military units is not only defense, but also preventive measures,
Armenia's Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan told reporters on
Wednesday, following an event marking Human Rights Day.
As regards the situation on the border, Mr Ohanyan said:
"Tension is now heightened now lessened. The Nagorno-Karabakh Defense
Army and Armenia's army only retaliate against regular sniping. We
also try to prevent provocations."
"We are more inclined to take preventive measures because we do not
commit violations. However, we must adequately retaliate when our
neighbors commit violations, and their 'zeal' wanes when we retaliate."
With respect to the peace process within the OSCE Minsk Group,
Minister Ohanyan said:
"Political agreements are being implemented. But the tension is
accompanying different processes, particularly meetings, and it is an
attempt to press the Armenian side. And both the Artsakh war showed
that present-day experience show that our neighbors' attempt to show
their military might by means of arms race failed during this year's
provocations and does not have any effect on the Armenian side. The
conflict must get a peaceful and political settlement, in conformity
with all international norms."
As regards the Armenian helicopter downed on November 12, Minister
Ohanyan said that an investigation is under way.
In response to Tert.am's question concerning human rights protection
in Armenia's armed forces, Mr Ohanyan said:
"Due to the command of Armenia's armed forces, cooperation with the
Human Rights Defender and efforts to create oversight mechanisms,
human rights protection level is rising in Armenia's armed forces
day by day."
He pointed out two factors of success in defense - the man and arms.
"It means that the approach with a focus on individuals in Armenia's
armed forces is the best. We do not view soldiers as resource. Rather,
we consider them as factors that are supposed to develop in the armed
forces, with his rights and duties, to be educated as a worthy member
of society," Mr Ohanyan said.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/12/10/seyran/1531851