Panorama.am

18:09 11/03/06

DEMOCRACY IN ARMY?

It is the second day since a round table seminar is
being held in Yerevan in the scopes of Starlink
program. It has been organized by International Centre
of Human Development (Armenia) and Research Centre of
European Securities (Netherlands) organizations.

Starlink program aims at `joining Georgia, the Ukraine
and Moldova to larger community of European security
stimulating the process of amendments and democratic
government of security field.’ Politician Aghasi
Yenokyan thinks: `This seminar has an introductory
character after which different mechanisms of
democratic control over armed forces will be
represented, trainings will be held and so on. And the
democratic control over armed forces in Armenia is of
extreme necessity and as the army has a great impact
on the political processes in Armenia. These two must
be separated from each other as much as possible.’

In his turn former Minister of Defence of the
Netherlands and former Secretary of Western-European
union Whim van Eckeley thinks such activities are
important to develop the system of defence.

Taking into consideration the circumstance that the
possible punitive measures towards Iran can create
real threats for Armenian security the Armenian
correspondents tried to receive comments on the
question form former European Minister of Defence.

`It’s a rather difficult question. But I don’t think
serious punitive measures will be carried out against
Iran in the near future. I think Iranian Government
will have commonsense enough to let international
agencies set control over realization of nuclear
programs,’ W. van Eckeley said.

However, Armenia is the 4th country after the Ukraine,
Moldova and Georgia to undergo Starlink program.
Taking into account the fact that the above mentioned
countries faced `colored revolutions’, as well as
active attempts to be admitted in the NATO in the
latest 2-3 years, isn’t there apprehension that the
same tendency is expected in Armenia? In reply to
Panorama.am this question politician A. Yenokyan said:
`Nevertheless, the NATO can give warrants of real
security to European countries. The fact of being
under the patronage of that organization holds these
countries back from war, it is obvious. I think in the
case of Armenia it will work if we manage to be
integrated into this project together with our
enemies.’ /Panorama.am/