Serzh Sargsyan to the command of the Armed Forces: I have always been with you and will continue to be

ArmInfo. The vertical of the Armenian Armed Forces has undergone drastic changes after the constitutional reforms. Henceforth, the hierarchy vertical is Prime Minister - Security Council - the government - head of the General Staff. Serzh Sargsyan stated at the meeting with the leadership of the Armenian Armed Forces.

However, he stressed, this does not mean that the president will not participate in the administration of the Armed Forces. At the suggestion of the prime minister, as Sargsyan explained, the president will appoint the head of the General Staff and other officials of the Armed Forces, as well as award medals and orders. He also noted that not only the vertical of the Armed Forces management had changed, but his apparatus had also been reformed. "Reforms should be aimed not at reducing the apparatus, but at increasing the efficiency of its work," Sargsyan said. The President also said that in the context of the forthcoming reforms, the military exercises Shant will be held this autumn.

Touching upon the work of the military-industrial complex, he stressed that the development of the military-industrial complex is a priority for Armenia. "The products of the domestic military-industrial complex must be competitive in order to be exported, we must make the military-industrial complex one of the locomotives of the Armenian economy," Sargsyan said.

Speaking about the social problems of servicemen and their families, Sargsyan noted that their decision is a priority for the authorities of the country. "To this end, the Military Insurance Fund has been established, which works very transparently and is a good example of the state-private and public sector interaction, and I think that voluntary transfers to the Fund's account will also increase over time. I appreciate the idea of creating the Foundation and I already believe that the time will come when the state will be able to assume the costs of social security for servicemen and their families and there will not be such a problem in Armenia, stated Sargsyan. He also touched upon the issue of discipline in the Armed Forces, stressing that the victorious army should not have disciplinary problems.

Summing up his speech, Sargsyan said: "In the last few years, I have been with you constantly, I will continue to do so, I will render more assistance. I believe and trust you. We are obliged to take steps that will improve our security, this is our main task."