ARMENIAN DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER: WE AIM AT FORMING ARMY FITTING 21-ST CENTURY DEMANDS AND CAPABLE OF SECURING STATE

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia is guided by principle of being gradual in forming the army and realizing defense reforms, Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia lieutenant general Artur Aghabekian stated at a seminar devoted to Armenia's joining to the NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), organized by the American-German George Marshall Center. In his words, the seminar will make its contribution to establishment of new cooperation ideas and prospects of defense reforms. As noted by Mr. Aghabekian, the forming of an army is a continuous activity, which provides for gradual reforms and development, which is priority for establishing army discipline and combatant value. The volume of reforms in the Armed Forces of Armenia first of all determines the military tasks of the state and prevention of the threat to the security. Thereupon, the working out of a security strategy, as well as public perception and support of it becomes important. It is also important to form a military doctrine, which will promote specification of the tasks of the armed forces. «By 2015 we aim to form an army fitting the demands of the 21-st century, capable of withstanding the new challenges and securing the state,» Artur Aghabekian noted. In his words, the four basic principles of the defense reforms are making the reforms realistic, gradual, flexible and democratic. These reforms should be advanced simultaneous to the development of other state spheres. As noted by Mr. Aghabekian, the IPAP document draft is ready and further steps are being discussed at present. The main goals of Armenia mentioned by the document include durable consultations with the NATO on regional security, Aghabekian added.