Pashinyan’s staff shortage - Sargsyan’s defeated general in a new status - COMMENT

Baku. 20 December. REPORT.AZ/ New political forces in Armenia are unable to conceal their plans to continue the occupation policy of their forerunners. They still believe that they have occupied Azerbaijani lands alone.

Armenian politicians consider themselves the authors of territorial claims against neighboring states. But for many decades, they pretend to be unaware that they have been puppets in someone’s hands in this matter. So they think that they are sitting in their own shade. Ambitious speeches by Armenian officials who pose for pictures in occupied lands of Azerbaijan either know nothing about what is happening in their armed forces, or have been accustomed to this state within their army.

Armenia does not conceal its intention to join NATO with the current military situation and occupation policy. At the same time, it does not want to quit the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which is controlled by Russia. For example, acting prime minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan says his country is a member of this organization and does not intend to become a member of NATO: “Nevertheless, it will continue close relations with the Alliance.”

David Tonoyan, acting Armenian Defense Minister, stated that Yerevan intends to buy weapons from the United States. Pashinyan said he would consider if such a proposal was made. Moreover, Armenia is still struggling for the position of CSTO Secretary General. Though dreaming to distance from Moscow in the foreign policy course, Armenia has no concrete will and power to do so. The situation with the military alliance is the same. It is unable to take its eyes off NATO and take hands off Russia and the CSTO. Armenia looks like a teenager tearing off the petals of a chamomile with “loves or loves not” in mind. From this point of view, official Yerevan is in dilemma between NATO and CSTO, the European Union and Eurasian Economic Union.

The reality is that the coup in May of this year did not change the situation in the Armenian army for better. The situation even reached a point where Nikol Pashinyan has appointed a General dismissed by ex-president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan as his advisor. After the defeat in April 2016, the myth about the Armenian army collapsed. This incident resulted in the ousting of Serzh Sargsyan and his criminal elements. In April of that year, Sargsyan dismissed a number of high-ranking officers from the army. On April 26, 2016, Serzh Sargsyan dismissed Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Alik Mirzabekyan, Chief of Communications Service, Major General Komitas Muradyan and head of the Intelligence Service of the Headquarters Arshak Karapetyan. Chief of Armenian Defense Ministry's armament department, General Mels Chilingaryan, as well colonels Mher Papyan and Armen Margaryan were arrested May 30.

Acting Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashiyan considers Arshak Karapetyan whom he appointed his advisor on December 18 to be the main military figure responsible for defeat in April battles and losses: “He must be held accountable. But he is still on the horse!” Arshak Karapetyan was appointed military attaché in the Armenian embassy in Russia in February 2018. It turns out that Nikol Pashinyan wants to eliminate the staff shortage in the military field on account of those who have been punished by Serzh Sargsyan. Or is that Pashinyan's step towards Russia? It is not a secret that Armenian army is under control of Russia. Arshak Karapetyan served as intelligence officer. From this point of view, it is possible that he has relations with the Russian institutions. It is possible to conclude that Pashinyan wants to give a message to Moscow that he hides nothing from Russia by appointing a general-major as an adviser. The head of the government also showed that in the military field he is closer to Russia.

Meanwhile, we would like to mention some reports about the negative aspects of the Armenian army. Defense Ministry said 7 servicemen with burn injuries were taken to various medical facilities in the country from December 1 to December 18. Another soldier was moved from the intensive care unit to the hospital due to a cardiac disease. Two more servicemen were taken to the Military Hospital in the past two days with bullet wounds. Chief Lieutenant of Armenian Armed Forces who served on contract wounded Armen Arutyunyan with a gunshot. A group of servicemen of the Armenian armed forces were buried under a snow avalanche in early December. One of them was found dead.

As if that were not enough Armenia wants to get ahead of itself. This situation also hampers development of economic, security, social and cultural affairs in the region. The scandal related to personnel shortages, suicides of servicemen, spiritual emptiness among soldiers, alternative searches for weapons and equipment, or the acquired weapons and military equipment, also confirms the confusion in the military field in that country. There is a way out of the situation. This way begins with giving up despairing, indifferent, fraudulent, arrogant and brutal claims. Nikol Pashinyan's “Way out” block has blocked this way out.