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ARMENIA: TO THE ARMY BY LOT
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 17 2014
17 January 2014 - 1:02pm
Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
For the first time, drafting in the Armenian army has new rules:
recruits are chosen for duty by lot in the presence of their parents.
Representatives of the Defense Ministry promised citizens that the
revolutionary change would reduce corruption risks to zero.
However, it would be naïve to believe the promises of the ministry.
Despite public interest in the new drafting system, experts and
human rights activists are keeping silent - time is needed, at least
several drafts to see whether a choice of a duty area by lot plays
a significant role in the reduction of corruption or not.
Any army is a reflection of the society. And it is impossible fir the
corruption level in society to be high, while in the army it is low.
Meanwhile, corruption rows are shaking Armenia day by day. The army
is a close structure and it is impossible to get a real picture
of developments there. Despite numerous statements by the Defense
Minister and other officials on close attention to recruits' health,
we don't see this, as there is no available information on recruits'
health conditions. Even the parliamentary commission for defense and
security doesn't receive sufficient information.
However, it is not only the state bodies that are guilty of the
absence of necessary data on the situation in the army and absence of
real control over the institution, but also society. Representatives
of non-governmental organizations sponsored from abroad take the
floor to criticize the Soviet army and prove the inefficiency of a
draft-based army. Some human rights activists, experts and the mass
media insist on a shift from a draft-based to a professional army,
thinking it will cure all diseases.
A professional army exists in states of two types: in very rich
democratic countries or in very poor totalitarian states, like some
African countries. At the same time, the experience of the US army
shows that even in a professional army one cannot avoid non-combat
casualties and harassment. "The main criterion of an army's evolution
should not be whether it is professional or draft-based, but whether
it is capable or not. The experience shows that either a professional
or a draft-based and mixed army can be capable," the political observer
of the analytical center Noyan Tapan, David Petrosyan, says.
Absence of expert evaluation of a high level on the situation in army,
for example, like in Israel, is a typical feature not only of Armenia.
However, along with the drawbacks mentioned, there are positive
changes. The number of non-combat casualties has fallen in the
Armenian army, even though it is still very high (2012 - 38 deaths,
2013 - 23 deaths). They also speak about a high level of draft turn up.
At the same time, it is obvious that to reduce the drawbacks of the
army and the force structures in general, effective, rather than
formal parliamentary control is needed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 17 2014
17 January 2014 - 1:02pm
Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
For the first time, drafting in the Armenian army has new rules:
recruits are chosen for duty by lot in the presence of their parents.
Representatives of the Defense Ministry promised citizens that the
revolutionary change would reduce corruption risks to zero.
However, it would be naïve to believe the promises of the ministry.
Despite public interest in the new drafting system, experts and
human rights activists are keeping silent - time is needed, at least
several drafts to see whether a choice of a duty area by lot plays
a significant role in the reduction of corruption or not.
Any army is a reflection of the society. And it is impossible fir the
corruption level in society to be high, while in the army it is low.
Meanwhile, corruption rows are shaking Armenia day by day. The army
is a close structure and it is impossible to get a real picture
of developments there. Despite numerous statements by the Defense
Minister and other officials on close attention to recruits' health,
we don't see this, as there is no available information on recruits'
health conditions. Even the parliamentary commission for defense and
security doesn't receive sufficient information.
However, it is not only the state bodies that are guilty of the
absence of necessary data on the situation in the army and absence of
real control over the institution, but also society. Representatives
of non-governmental organizations sponsored from abroad take the
floor to criticize the Soviet army and prove the inefficiency of a
draft-based army. Some human rights activists, experts and the mass
media insist on a shift from a draft-based to a professional army,
thinking it will cure all diseases.
A professional army exists in states of two types: in very rich
democratic countries or in very poor totalitarian states, like some
African countries. At the same time, the experience of the US army
shows that even in a professional army one cannot avoid non-combat
casualties and harassment. "The main criterion of an army's evolution
should not be whether it is professional or draft-based, but whether
it is capable or not. The experience shows that either a professional
or a draft-based and mixed army can be capable," the political observer
of the analytical center Noyan Tapan, David Petrosyan, says.
Absence of expert evaluation of a high level on the situation in army,
for example, like in Israel, is a typical feature not only of Armenia.
However, along with the drawbacks mentioned, there are positive
changes. The number of non-combat casualties has fallen in the
Armenian army, even though it is still very high (2012 - 38 deaths,
2013 - 23 deaths). They also speak about a high level of draft turn up.
At the same time, it is obvious that to reduce the drawbacks of the
army and the force structures in general, effective, rather than
formal parliamentary control is needed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress