YOU HAVE TO BE READY FOR WAR IF YOU WANT PEACE
Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
11-06-2007
Interview with the NKR Minister of Defense, Lieutenant-General Movses
Hakobian. AA: Do the militaristic statements by Azerbaijan worry you?
Movses Hakobian: We know the war will start at the very moment when the
political and military leadership of Azerbaijan is sure that their
force is stronger. The Azerbaijani high-ranking officials state their
military expenditure exceeds our state budget. These statements are
obviously for internal consumption because the size of military
expenditure does not guarantee success. During the war Karabakh was in
blockade, there was no bread to eat, we did not have weapon, but we won
the war. Today we have an army armed with modern weapons, the air force
is upgraded every day, a powerful engineering system is set up at the
border. The Azerbaijani army outnumbers our army but our army is ready
to counteract through all the possible ways, and in case Azerbaijan
wages a war, it will be beaten. AA: What will be primary for the
minister of defense? Movses Hakobian: Certainly, balance among the
armies of the region. AA: What is your vision of the army in the
nearest future? Movses Hakobian: Better prepared, equipped with modern
weapons and equipment. I think the social state of the service
personnel is also highly important. We have to confess in the post-war
years we had to focus on armament and equipment, military
infrastructures, and now we have shortcomings in the social security of
the personnel, especially conscripts. We have made considerable efforts
in the past few years but it is not enough. I think every effort is
appreciation and gratitude for the contribution of the people who
fought in the war and now serve in the army. Of course, the social
problems of the families of killed azatamartiks are primary, which is
also important for the education of the new generation. AA: Which is
the most important lesson for Lieutenant-General Movses Hakobian?
Movses Hakobian: The most important lesson is that there must be no
war, and as a general, as a minister of defense, all of us should work
towards peace, but peace is possible if the army is strong and
effective. There is a saying: `it you want peace, be ready for war.’
The minister of defense was brought up in a traditional Armenian family
and decided to become military when he visited Chardakhlu, the native
village of Marshal Baghramian and Marshal Babajanian in the ninth
grade. He studied at the military college in Alma Ata and served in
Afghanistan, which gave him the right to serve at home, the 366th
regiment of Stepanakert. He hardly avoided trial for helping the
azatamartiks ` the `Afghani’ background and the Medal of Red Star
helped him. Then he led a squad of volunteers during the military
actions.
AA.
11-06-2007