Armenian President: "There is a risk of resumption of hostilities"

"As the negotiation process on the Karabakh conflict settlement continues and the problem has not been settled completely, there is a risk of resumption of hostilities.

Therefore, the army should be strong and ready to avert any attack", said Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan during the session with high officer command of the Armenian armed forces.

In this sense, the head of state stressed importance of consistent work for raising combativity of the armed forces.

"It is necessary to improve and development the armed forces, continue reforms, conducted in the sphere of defense, which is an important condition for strong and mighty army", said Sargsyan.

As for the connection between army and policy, he said army is an apolitical structure and its task is to ensure security of the country. "Military men have no right to engage in political activity", said the President.

"It is necessary to raise public trust to army, also attracting parents of the servicemen to the said work for any demobilized serviceman to become the army propagandist", said the Armenian leader.

He noted that though army has the biggest trust of the society among all state system institutions,it should not be bound only to it.

"One of the main criteria of trust is that mothers send their sons to army being confident that they will return safe and sound, becoming a real men and full citizens of Armenia", said Sargsyan.

/Novosti-Armenia/