Minister of Defense: Serzh Sargsyan`s statement on the events of  March 1, 2008 should not be considered as a threat

ArmInfo. I just want to note that we should not consider the Prime Minister's statement that it is necessary to draw conclusions from the events of March 1, 2008, as a  threat.  This was stated on  April 23 at a press conference by the  Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan .

Sargsyan noted that the Prime Minister wanted to remind that such  actions could lead to escalation and tension, which at the moment we  absolutely do not need. "The fact that the government met with the  opposition already indicates to us that we are ready for a dialogue,"  the minister said.

Touching on whether it is possible that the army will be involved in  the given process, Sargsyan stated that our legislation clearly  specifies those cases when the army should participate in this or  that process. "The armed forces can participate in such processes  only in the event of a state of emergency, the army, in that case,  can be used not as an additional force, but as a physical force  necessary to maintain the regime." I hope that such a need will soon  be will not arise, "Sargsyan said.

Touching on the involvement of students in the protest, the minister  said that their participation in these processes is a red line.  Schoolchildren and students are different categories, "Sargsyan said,  adding that there are several concerns regarding children: firstly,  this is a security issue, as during the protests the streets are  blocked, and secondly, it is a moral and ideological issue, when  children are exposed in front of the cells and watched with ecstasy  as the child draws parallels between Monte Melkonyan and the rally  leaders, while he is not well informed about Melkonyan's activities  and can not draw similar parallels.  inisterstva defense is not able  to communicate with young citizens of the country, as they do not  watch TV, do not read newspapers and almost never go to news sites.  According to Sargsyan, it is necessary to find a way to establish a  relationship between government and society.

Referring to the arrest of the deputy - Nikol Pashinyan, Sarkisyan  said that for parliamentary democracy and freedom of speech sometimes  conflict with certain aspects of security, sometimes the guards of  order are forced to join these questions. "The time has come when the  opposition, which is in the parliament, began to differ from that  opposition, the only way of which activity is the street," Sargsyan  said. According to the minister, that opposition force, which has the  opportunity to use the parliamentary platform for the struggle,  should act in this very plane. "I think that this is another stage  for the establishment of our democracy." As for the deputies, there  are laws that will be observed, "Sargsyan said.

Referring to the actions of the police, the minister said that they  should not be too strict in their attitude. "I suggest that you  compare the police actions in such democratic countries as England,  France, Germany, for comparison, and our police do not do anything  like that, and I should note that all actions of our policemen are at  a very high level," Sargsyan said.