Armenian acting legislation hampers armed forces reform

PanARMENIAN.Net - An interdepartmental commission that includes officials of the RA Defense Ministry and NATO proceeded to work in order to promote the military reform in Armenia, RA Deputy Defense Minister, lieutenant general Artur Aghabekian said at a seminar titled "Military reform in Armenia: provision of Defense Ministry with civil personnel and introduction of amendments in the law On Defense", initiated by the George C. Marshall Center. In his words, the cooperation with NATO is developing both within the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) and in the framework of planning and coordination of reforms. "Our reforms will be carried out in three stages: reconsideration of the strategy of military security to be completed in 2008, reforms in the armed forces in 2008-2010 and ensuring of sustainable development of the RA armed forces proceeding from international standards and commitments Armenia undertook to European structures. The last stage is planned for 2010-2015," Aghabekian said.



At that the RA Deputy Defense Minister remarked that the acting Armenian legislation is outdated and hampers the armed forces' reform. "The law On Defense should be reconsidered. Changes are needed in provisions on call-up and engagement of civilians in the army structures. We have to elaborate a military doctrine that along with the national security strategy will raise the efficiency of the Armenian armed forces. The law On Defense was adopted in 1997 and does not answer modern demands especially in the light of the reviewed Constitution. We also have to establish civil control over the army and elaborate a law on peacekeeping forces," Aghabekian underscored.