The interlocutor of "Euromedia 24" is Gagik Melkonyan, a former deputy of the "Civil Agreement" faction of the National Assembly.
— Mr. Melkonyan, the number of deaths in the army in non-combat conditions is disturbing. How do you imagine the solution to that issue?
— The solution is a bit complicated, because it does not depend only on the officers, it depends on everyone, starting from school, college and all places. Educational work should be in all places. We can punish this or that commander, but the incidents continue again. Manners must disappear. Those thieving or false thieving behaviors come from outside, not from inside. We must all work together to prevent these incidents
.- And what about the government's responsibility? How do you feel about the dismissal of the head of the Military Police?
- Everyone should be in their place. If they are not in their place, it means that something is wrong. Everyone should answer in his place.
- Was Ashot Zakaryan in his place?
— Ashot Zakaryan was the head of RO, but the work should be in all places.
— And how do you evaluate the appointment of Aram Hovhannisyan? Will he be able to solve systemic issues?
— I say again: we all have to deal with that problem. A parent raises a child, sends him to the army, and there a bashibozuk can take a person's life. A lot of work needs to be done.
- At one time, when such incidents happened, journalist Nikol Pashinyan pointed the arrows of guilt at the minister of that time, Vazgen Sargsyan. Is Suren Papikyan innocent?
— It does not depend on one person. If Papikyan is dismissed, will all that disappear? Everyone should work. What kind of child do you send to the army, how was he in civilian life, what did he do? The commander must also be a psychologist, he must carry out educational work. Those issues are now in a state of flux.
- Was it unfair when journalist Pashinyan targeted Vazgen Sargsyan?
- You are also targeting Papikyan, what's the difference?
— I am not targeting, I am trying to find out your opinion.
- You also have a job, we all have to work to eliminate those customs.
- How would you rate the manners of the new parliament? Is it very different from the previous parliament, when you were a member of parliament?
- It differs in that the previous one was secretly protecting the interests of another country, now it is openly. Today's opposition has become the sister organization of the State Duma.
— Why did the CP decide to change the chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security Affairs, Andranik Kocharyan, nominating Vilen Gabrielyan for that position? Who is preferable for you?
- For me, Andranik Kocharyan is preferable, but he was not nominated.
- In other words, Vilen Gabrielyan will not be able to be a worthy substitute?
- It will work, we'll see. A person has to work to understand if he can or not. Anyone can work, what happened?
