On the opinion of military expert Artsroun Hovanisyan, after 1994 ceasefire Azerbaijan spent at least 10 billion dollars on armaments purchase, not counting the expenses on military industry. However on this money it purchased basically armaments with life duration of maximum 20-25 years which after some time will become scrap metal. After the Armenian army military parade on September 21st it became evident that Azerbaijan’s attacking potential not only does not have advantage with respect to potential of Armenia but is inferior to it.

On November 7-9 Needs Presentation Conference was held in Federative Republic of Germany with the participation of South Caucasus countries. Armenia was represented by Deputy Head of RA MOD Defense Policy Department Ara Mesropyan.
First such a conference was organized in 2002 on the initiative of American Forces Command in Europe. Its aim is: to set up a forum where South Caucasian three countries could present their needs in the sphere of defense reforms, where Western countries’ aid is needed. Since 2005 the Western countries started to stipulate such aid in their state budgets, and the initiative got a practical significance.

In the beginning of November a conference on “Defense Policy and Strategy” was held where Armenia was represented by Deputy Head of RA MOD Defense Policy Department Ara Mesropyan. According to him, the Conference was organized by NATO International Secretariat Defense Policy and Planning Department and pursued two aims: 1) to discuss the role of NATO in developing partner-countries’ defense abilities, 2) to present NATO’s new initiative for general, alliance and multinational operations.

The peculiarities of the current conscription which started on November 15th, are mechanisms improvements and increase of possibilities for protestation and violations revelation. About this RA Defense Minister stated in the interview to the State TV. “On the order of the Defense Minister under the aegis of the Public Council a commission is created which examines all the complaints of the citizens, takes appropriate decisions and presents to the corresponding bodies, – told S.Ohanyan. – Besides there is a “hot line” 1-88”.

On November 11th a conference on “Operational training organization and implementation results analysis, ways and methods for elevation of their level” was held in the Defense Ministry.
The Conference was organized by RA MOD Operational Training Department, where military units deputy commanders on operational training, representatives of corresponding divisions participated.
Reports were made on operational training inspections results analysis in the troops, operational training organization and control mechanisms.

In the Armenian army fatal outcome cases because of illnesses decreased for 30% for the last year. The registered cases are exceptionally linked with firearms wounding and sudden death. This was told by RA MOD Military-Medical Department Head, M/S colonel Artashes Parsadanyan. For 33% reduced the number of enlisted servicemen, demobilized because of illnesses during the first three months of their service.

Let me greet all the participants and guests of the international conference “Regional Security Dynamics in the South Caucasus”. The importance of the Conference is verified both regarding the security interests of regional states and the authority and influence of the present specialists and experts.
The geopolitical developments occurring in the South Caucasus are complex and often difficult to foresee as the region carries on itself the influence of regional and extra-regional power centers’ interest pooling and competition. This fact creates both additional opportunities and some challenges for the regional states.