"U.S. SUPPORTS AZERBAIJAN’S MILITARIZATION"

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[07:59 pm] 10 October, 2007

"A weak enemy is not necessarily a good enemy," said Richard
Giragosian, a U.S.-based political scientist, during a Yerevan
discussion on October 10.

According to Richard Giragosian, the military equilibrium between
the three regional countries is changing but not in favor of Armenia.

Azerbaijan is boosting military expenditure which may considerably
change the balance in the upcoming years.

In this sense the military advantage of Armenia in the region
is temporary. The political scientist says as long as Safar
Abiyev is Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister, we can be sure that the
appropriations for the army are dissipated and the army remains weak
and disorganized. On the other hand, however, big appropriations may
in the future give advantage to Azerbaijan.

One of the supporters of Azerbaijan’s militarization is the USA,
he says. The procedure is underway in Georgia as well.

Richard Giragosian thinks Armenia should take measures in this
context. The first should be sustainable dynamic of military
reforms. In this respect, Richard Giragosian points to military
intelligence as an important factor, adding that the death of the
head of military intelligence Basentsi Azoyan was a great loss for
the Armenian armed force and now somebody is sought to replace him.

According to the political scientist, the next strand of military
reforms should refer to technology.

Richard Giragosian thinks Armenia can place the army at a new
technological level thanks to its IT potential.

Besides, Richard Giragosian thinks diplomatic, political cooperation
with international organizations is also important to support the
Armenian army.

"The Armenian army has a defensive function, and it can serve a
guarantee for stability in the region," he says.

Apart from all, the U.S.-based Armenian political scientist thinks it
is highly important for Armenia not to rely on external guarantees
of security, Russia or NATO, to be a self-sufficient country and
rely on its own potential. Therefore, the political scientist says,
it is necessary to acknowledge that the biggest threat to security
is inside, i.e. corruption, which hinders the development of the
country’s economy.

Richard Giragosian highlighted the formation of mobile military special
groups. Armenia is surrounded by unfriendly countries therefore
it should be able to react accordingly. The political scientist is
surprised at Armenia’s indifference towards aviation.