“The package of bills under discussion is essential; it will provide a vertical of power in the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces,” Defense Minister Suren Papikyan stated from the rostrum of the parliament during discussions of the draft law on amending the law "On Defense" and some related draft laws.
According to the proposed amendments, the chief of the General Staff will become the first deputy defense minister. At the same time, he will not perform the minister's functions in his absence.
The problem, according to him, is not at all in individual figures, it is systemic; therefore, there is a need for system-wide changes. "The management system should become more flexible and be controlled from above. This does not mean that the minister will avoid exercising civilian control over the armed forces. However, this also does not imply that we will avoid political responsibility," the minister stressed.
He said that many suspect that an attempt is being made to subordinate the armed forces to the defense minister. “Meanwhile, this is not an attempt, but a very clear step: the army must be subordinate to the Minister of Defense and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief,” the head of the Defense Ministry said. “So that there are no questions in the future, I will say clearly: the people have delegated power to us, and this gives us the right to exercise it in full, and we are ready for this,” Papikyan stressed.
“For some reason, former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan believes that he has the right to call the Chief Military Commissar of Armenia and make claims to him - they say, by what right do you send young opposition representatives to military training,” Defense Minister Suren Papikyan stated. “So, are you citizens of the Republic of Armenia or not? Of course, it is easier to defend the country in Yerevan - in comfortable, calm conditions. But in fact, they do not save the country but push it towards uncertainty," Papikyan said.
He also recalled that he declared the last month to be Engineering Month. "So, participate in this engineering work. Moreover, participate in a three-month military training camp! You and your supporters are citizens of the Republic of Armenia and are no better than other citizens," the Defense Minister flagged. He stressed that former high-ranking military officers do not have the right to call military officials for one reason or another. “Such demands and appeals imply legal responsibility, and law enforcement officers should pay attention to this circumstance,” Suren Papikyan concluded.
