Armenian army to become accountable to Defence Ministry, Prime Minister

Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan has said that the draft laws relating to the management of the army will significantly change the vertical of power in the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Armenia.

He made the statement on July 6 in the parliament at the discussion of the draft amendments to the law "On Defence" and related bills, Caliber.Az reports with reference to the Armenian media.

“Life has shown us that the problems lie not in individuals, but in the system,” Papikyan added.

He confirmed that the bill is aimed at increasing the accountability of the General Staff to the Ministry of Defence and the prime minister.

“Yes, we must implement the power that the people gave us,” Papikyan said.

The minister also expressed his regret over the absence of opposition MPs in the discussions, many of whom have service and command experience in the Armed Forces.

“I am not the kind of person who can reject these opinions and objective proposals,” he added.

According to the draft amendments, the chief of the General Staff should become the first deputy defence minister of Armenia, but will not perform the functions of a minister in his absence. In an interview with Public Television on June 6, Papikyan said the Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces would be appointed only after the completion of structural changes in the Ministry of Defence.

Accountability will extend to defence procurement. The Ministry of Defence will deprive the General Staff of the functions related to the army’s material supplies so that the leadership of the army is relieved of economic issues and focuses on defence tasks.