Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 14 2005

SERGE SARGSIAN: ARMENIA’S AND AZERBAIJAN’S OPINIONS IN ISSUE OF
CREATION OF REGIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM ARE CONTRARY

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The regional and international
threats, the orientation of the South Caucasus towards European
integration require implementation of adequate reforms from the
states of this region. But the essence, goal, intension and direction
of these reforms are different in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
This was mentioned in the report on the subject “Reforms of Defence
Sphere in the South Caucasus” made by Serge Sargsian, Secretary of
the National Security Council under RA President, RA Defence
Minister, at the Rose-Roth seminar held in Yerevan.

This difference, according to the Minister, is mostly displayed in
the conceptions of Armenia and Azerbaijan. “For instance, in the
issue of Nagorno Karabakh settlement we are guided by the principle
“cooperation for of peace” suggesting achieving establishment of an
atmosphere of mutual confidence and stability by cooperation, which
is the first and foremost precondition for the settlement of the
conflict. Azerbaijan, on the contrary, conditions formation of
cooperation by the settlement of the conflict and rejects any
proposal of cooperation until the conflict is solved.”

Having in circulation the variant of solving the Karabakh conflict in
a military way, Azerbaijan’s ruling circles imagine the reforms of
armed forces and increase in fighting efficiency purely by means of
militarization, the Minister mentioned emphasizing that for this
purpose military expenditures increase year by year in Azerbaijan.

According to Serge Sargsian, the opinions of Armenia and Azerbaijan
are contrary in the issue of creation of a regional security system,
regional integration as well. Both the official circles of Armenia
and representatives of the international community have submitted
proposals in this direction from different tribunes but every time
they received Azerbaijan’s refusal to start any cooperation.
“Moreover, Azerbaijan’s authorities with their position instigate
other countries to repulsive policy. To tell the truth, such a
position questions the willingness of Azerbaijani authorities to
carry out defence sphere reforms corresponding to European
standards.”

“To have armed forces great in number becomes a priority for Armenia
in this hostile atmosphere,” Serge Sargsian declared.

The Minister also gave assurance that the most efficient way of
provision of military security, strengthening of fighting efficiency
of armed forces is military integration and reforms.

Serge Sargsian noted that Armenia is actively involved in different
security systems for having a stable security system. Today Armenia
promotes cooperation within the framework of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO) and NATO, which contributes to creation of
opportunities for interaction of RA Armed Forces on different
international standards. Therefore both the bilateral
Armenian-Russian military bloc and development of cooperation within
the framework of CSTO and development of cooperation with structures
of NATO and the US are the guarantee of provision of Armenia’s
security. Cooperating with NATO, Armenia carries out reforms in the
sphere of defence within the framework of the Program of Planning and
Reconsideration and Individual Partnership Plan. The strategy of
reforms within the framework of CSTO is aimed at creation of a system
of neutralization of threats to security and effective systems.

“In spite of the difference of points of view of South Caucasian
countries in the issue of defence reforms, there is a circumstance,
which gives hope for their successful implementation: the defence
reforms proceed by the course of the international integration in all
of the three states of the region,” Serge Sargsian emphasized.

According to the Minister, the defence reforms carried out in the
South Caucasian region, with their positive and negative aspects,
proceed by the spirit of European integration. Cooperation with NATO
plays a considerable role in the issue of implementation of these
reforms as it’s NATO that supports and helps in implementation of
reforms.