MILITARY EXPERT CALLS FOR CONTINUING REFORMS IN DEFENSE SPHERE OF ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.04.2009 15:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "August war in Georgia altered the balance of
military forces in South Caucasus. It demonstrated Moscow’s power
of influence in the region, solved two suspended conflicts in the
Caucasus, proved it’s premature for Georgia to seek NATO membership
and West’s disinterestedness in Tbilisi, Armenian Center for National
and International Studies (ACNIS) Director Richard Giragosian stated
in his report entitled "Balance of Military Forces in South Caucasus".

Considering the circumstances, the official Yerevan should
take a serious attitude towards national security in Armenian
and NKR. Armament drive and militarization of the region were
launched after the war in South Ossetia. Since 2004 Azerbaijan
has been increasing military budget volumes, inducing Armenia to
correspond. Georgia’s experience taught a good lesson to Caucasian
states, showing ineffectiveness of military solution in the region.

According to expert, Armenia and NKR possess the most efficient armed
forces in the region and low corruption level in defense sphere as
compared to Azerbaijan. As for Azerbaijan, Even if Azeri Ministry
of Defense undertook reforms tomorrow, they’ll need 8 years at the
least to eliminate corruption and other faults in Azeri Armed Forces.

Still, considering militarization of the whole region, Armenia should
continue with reforms in defense sphere and undertake specific steps
to develop democracy and economy in the country to balance its military
forces in the region.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress