ARMENIA’S SECURITY SERVICES FAILED TO PREVENT OCT 27 TERRORIST ACT BECAUSE OF
LACK OF INFORMATION
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16. ARMINFO. Armenia’s security services failed
to prevent the Oct 27 1999 terrorist act in the Armenian parliament
simply because they had no information about it, the newly appointed
director of the national security service of Armenia, Maj Gen Gorik
Hakopyan says in an interview to Golos Armenii.
One should not forget the fact that the ringleader of the terrorists
Nairi Hunanyan had frequented the parliament and was personally
acquainted with some MPs. The special services of even stronger
countries sometimes fail to get warning information in time. Some
“experts” are now trying to evaluate and criticize the actions of
Armenia’s special services in Oct 1999. “I am saying with full
responsibility that our conscience is clear before the coming
generations,” says Hakopyan.
He notes that were it not for the iron will of Armenia’s President
Robert Kocharyan the situation could have led to some unpredictable
consequences. The special services acted then like in the rear of
an enemy. They were very much worried lest the terrorist might make
ultimatums and the death roll might have been longer. “We did our
best, we did everything any special services would normally do in
a situation like that.” “Our compatriots should understand that at
hard times the interests of the state are above all,” says Hakopyan.