Serzh Sargsyan holds consultation at Defense Ministry

Armenian President, Supreme Commander of the Armenian Armed Forces Serzh Sargsyan visited today Armenian Defense Ministry, according to the presidential press service.

Prior to consultations with the central staff and top officials of Defense Ministry, the president watched demonstration training in the sports complex of the Ministry. Accompanied by the defense minister and other top military, he visited the specialized medical center located in the Ministry’s administrative building where he familiarized himself with the conditions and spoke to employees.

The tour was followed by a consultation, during which a video conference took place with commanders of army corps, military units, and servicemen on duty on their frontline positions.

The defense minister, the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and his deputies informed Serzh Sargsyan on work done in defense sphere, the future plans, and the existing problems and measures for their solution. Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian spoke about the ministry’s activities, presenting in detail the work done in the main directions, as well as work related to the development of the defense sphere, combat tasks, the level of preparedness, cooperation between departments, etc.
He stressed that the armed forces of Armenia successfully perform their combat duties on the Line of Contact, forcing the enemy to observe the ceasefire with the aim of ensuring constructive negotiations.

Seyran Ohanian said that in accordance with instructions the president gave during his previous visit, the quantity of training military equipment has been increased to improve the educational process.

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Yuri Khachaturov made a report on organizational-structural changes in troops, improvement of the command system and logistics, and raising the morale.

Deputy Defense Minister David Tonoyan made a report on work done concerning the defense policy, personnel management, military education, and the results of reforms. According to him, serious PR work has been carried out: active contacts and partnership are established with both local and international NGOs.

Deputy Minister Ara Nazarian presented work done by the Ministry in legislative and law-enforcement areas in 2013-2014. He underlined that systematic work enabled to improve cooperation with the commanders of military units and law enforcement bodies.
Deputy Minister of Defense Alik Mirzabekian informed the president about work of the Ministry’s Department of Logistics and Military-Industrial Management on the purchase of armament and modern military equipment, improvement of fighting efficiency, etc.
The Armenian president addressed questions to the reporters concerning some of the problems, gave instructions to the responsible officials and made his comments about the priorities of Defense Ministry. Indicating the tangible progress in the Armenian armed forces, he underlined the importance of giving renewed impetus to progress, taking into account the efforts to ensure fighting efficiency of the armed forces and solve the national problems.

Speaking about important social problems, the president said: “From the second half of 2014, we will start a program to provide housing to families of killed and deceased servicemen and disabled ones (Karabakh war veterans). In all likelihood we will use the following option: housing will be built and given to them”.

At the conclusion of the consultation, a number of employees of Armenian Defense Ministry received letters of thanks of the RA president for their efficient and conscientious work.