"POWER IS THE BIGGEST MAFIA"

A1Plus.am
14/05/10

"Army is the biggest mafia," says Armenian’s ex Prime Minister,
economist Hrant Bagratyan.

"Army cannot be strong if a serviceman receives indifferent treatment
by officers. We face two options – either to switch to a compulsory
service like Israel, or to have a professional army. We do not need
generals who cannot conciliate with victory. We do not need their
victory."

"I wonder how Robert Kocharyan happened to be called a "warrior."

Kocharyan did not participate in the war. During the crisis I was
with Kocharyan and put down his orders. It was Kocharyan who emptied
Karabakh, not Azerbaijan. He fixed the price of meat at 25 roubles
in Karabakh and 1200 in Armenia. Karabakhi people drove their cattle
to Armenia to sell at higher prices," said Mr. Bagratyan.

Heritage Party is also concerned about army issues.

"Army is one of the sources of corruption. The phenomenon started
in the 1990s and has deep roots," says Heritage board chairman Armen
Martirosyan and advises the authorities to strengthen army building.

"We must assist the Defense Minister to recruit uncorrupted and
unbiased officers," he said.

Human rights expert Arthur Sakunts says army is the most irresponsible
and uncontrollable structure in Armenia.

"Power is the greatest mafia in Armenia. Army is simply a structure
serving the authorities. Up to day, the Control Chamber failed to
check up whether the money allotted by the state budget was spent on
the right purpose.

Arthur Sakunts told A1+ that actions were filed against the Defence
Ministry. In particular, the human rights expert wants to know the
names or organizations supplying the army with food, clothes and
stationery.

"Not each general is a genuine general. The existence of shoulder
straps does not mean he is a general. Once a general is involved in
politics or business he becomes corrupted," notes Mr. Sakunts.