Campaign Against RA Defense Office Wrong, Minister Says

CAMPAIGN AGAINST RA DEFENSE OFFICE WRONG, MINISTER SAYS

news.am
Sept 15 2010
Armenia

Not so many incidents occur in the Armenian army now, but they just
evoke an immensely strong public response, RA Minister of Defense
Seyran Ohanyan stated in Parliament on September 15, speaking of the
recent murders and suicides in the Armenian army.

“I do not think that, under the circumstances, it would be right
to launch a large-scale campaign against the Ministry of Defense,”
the minister complained.

According to him, criminal proceedings were initiated on each
incident. “Serious preventive measures are being taken in the armed
forces. I personally meet with the killed soldiers’ relatives after
each sitting of the Government,” Minister Ohanyan said.

He also refuted the widespread opinion that the RA Ministry of Defense
has a practice of interpreting murders as suicides. “Yes, it was only
in the case of the officer Artak Nazaryan, but that was an initial
statement. Investigation is under way now under my personal control,”
the Minister said.

Commenting on the Youtube video demonstrating harassment of soldiers,
allegedly in the Armenian army, the Minister stated he does not
believe such things happen in the Armenian army. He pointed out that
experts are now studying the video. “If we find out such a thing
really happened, the one guilty will be punished severely.

Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to find that man,” the
Minister said. He also stressed that those who put the video on
Youtube will be punished as well.

Minister Ohanyan also refuted the rumors about his strained relations
with Chief of the General Staff Yuri Khachaturov. “Khachaturov comes
to see me several times a day,” the Minister said.

Speaking of the present state of the Armenian armed forces, Minister
Ohanyan stressed that the army is one of the greatest achievements
of modern Armenian history. “Armenia must cope with the tasks set to
it both by itself and with the people’s support,” he said. According
to the Minister, the command staff of the Armenian armed forces is
highly professional and well-educated. They are well informed of
both the strong and weak points of the army. The Minister said that
personnel changes are regular in the Armenian army. “Those unable to
properly perform their duties are dismissed,” Ohanyan said.

From: A. Papazian