YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS: In 1992, January 28, the Armenian government adopted a historic decree “About Defense Ministry of the Republic of Armenia” declaring with it the creation of the Armenian National Army. Ahead of the 20^th anniversary, Armenpress news agency presents exclusive interview with the Head of the Armenia's General Staff during the years of Karabakh war and incumbent Chief Advisor to Armenia’s defense minister Gurgen Dalibaltayan who is in springs of formation of the Armed Forces of Armenia.

- Mr Dalibaltayan, you played a leading role in the creation of Armenian army. How do you assess the route the army has passed after the twenty years?

- Formation of the national army was a great achievement. It was the index of the state’s independence. If the army is strong, the state is strong too. In our case the army was created in very hard conditions and the bases of it were put when the Soviet Union was on the edge of collapse. When the conflict sharpened, our boys organized themselves and it is in case when there was no united leadership. During it pogroms in Sumgait and Baku took place. The volunteers rushed to the front lines aiming to protect every Armenian settlement, village, town. In such conditions our prior goal was to create united leadership.

- How was it possible to create Security Council, and then Armenia’s Defense Ministry?

- I was working in Rostov at that time as deputy head of the North Caucasian military county troops. Realizing the importance of the moment I arrived in Armenia trying to assess the situation and form the policy necessary for protection of our compatriots from the main rival – Azerbaijan. With my suggestion Security Council was created in the beginning of the war. Initially we could not have defense ministry as we were part of the Soviet Union. I was appointed head of the General Staff. In future we worked out a clear strategy with which we were going to form a regular army. We managed to unite separately acting groups of volunteers and subject them to the General Staff. Afterwards, we received an opportunity to implement active military actions like in Getashen, Kirovabad. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was stated about the creation of Armenia’s defense ministry and the first minister was Vazgen Sargsyan and I was appointed head of the General Staff.

- Which were and are the main achievements and flaws of the Armenian Armed Forces?

- As I have mentioned our army was formed in very peculiar conditions, more rightly to say on the stage of war activities. We cannot say the same for other states of the Soviet Union who acquired independence during that period. The achievement was that from the very beginning many Armenians, understanding the difficult moment for their homeland, organized themselves and rushed to protect Armenian settlements. After the creation of the General Staff it became possible to implement joined military activities. One of the first flaws was that initially Armenian militaries serving in different regions of Russia did not respond and did not come to Armenia. It was very important for us to have experienced military as we had just patriots who needed literary military leadership. But it was not an impediment for us to implement all the issues we faced.

- Incidents in the army are being widely discussed. In your opinion, why do these incidents happen and what steps are necessary to exclude them?

- People must understand that it is a war situation. At the same time each killed soldier is a great pain not only for the parents of soldiers but for us too. Defense Ministry understands very well the value of each soldier. The discipline and healthy atmosphere in the army are under the limelight of Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, and he does not spare an effort to exclude undesirable incidents.

- It is being said that Armenia’s army is the most battle-worthy in the region. How will you assess the correlation of military forces in the region? What is necessary to do to reinforce the existing privilege?

- It is known that Armenian national army concedes its neighbors in respect of the quantity, but we have formed more battle-worthy and high-quality armed forces. Neighbor countries exceed in respect of army financing, among them is Azerbaijan. If we could have even the 10% of its opportunities we would have been able to create invincible army. In respect of quality we exceed many. Our ten militaries are equal to 100 of theirs. During the war we once again proved the inefficiency of the Azerbaijani army. They continue being so and they more like to threaten. I want to advise the Azerbaijani president not to forget the received lesson and stop voicing threats from every platform as we have never been afraid of them and are not going to be.

- What will you wish to the Armenian soldier and army on the occasion of 20^th anniversary of the army?

- The work of militaries is to protect homeland and I want all them to remember it. Our fighters must love and value their homeland. Currently we are carrying out serious work toward formation of new officer staff and their education. We also understand that many officers do not correspond to their titles and their level of education is not satisfactory. If we manage to solve this issue we will have a more battle-worthy army. I congratulate all Armenians on the 20^th anniversary of the formation of the Armed Forces.