Tribune’s guest is Victor Ozerov, the head of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security and senator from Khabarovsk Territory. See Part 1 Viktor Ozerov: "Several points in the law on countering terrorism must be clarified"
- Do you think Russia can cancel conscription in favor of a contract army?
- I cannot answer for the whole of Russia, but I can tell you my view. Today the nature of hostilities and military activities have changed; and any possible war seriously differs from previous wars. However, the number of trained soldiers is always a criterion of the level of military capacity of the Armed Forces, i.e. the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any state. That is why it is necessary to train our reserve staff. Moreover, service in the Armed Forces makes men from boys; they are different after army service. The army is a school of life, a school of upbringing, a school of preparation for a big independent life, a school of discipline. The Army teaches us to plan, set tasks, realizing that they will have to be settled through obstacles, difficulties, but they must move forward. That’s why my point of view is that Russia shouldn’t reject conscription to the army.
- As an officer, do you think one year in the army is too much or sufficient?
- The number of contract soldiers is growing year by year. And generally professions which demand great experience, work with high technologies and expensive equipment are provided by contract soldiers. Aviation units, the Navy, some other professions which we have in the Armed Forces are fulfilled by contract officers. However, there are many positions, starting from a driver of an armored vehicle or tank, a gunner, can be successfully filled by recruits.
- Regarding military training for reserve soldiers, how are they held? And who should participate in them?
- The Law on Duty of Service and Military Service requires a reserve service, including participation in military training and tests. Military training should be held no more than once in three years. In general, a citizen who is a reserve soldier can be called for military training no more than for 12 months in his life and with maintenance of an average salary which must be paid at his place of work or service. Administrative and criminal responsibility is required for military training evasion. Executives who do not pay an average salary can be mulcted 500 thousand rubles.
There is also testing training. And we have problems here. They are connected with accumulated problems in the Armed Forces. One day we left all military enlistment offices without military people, another day these enlistment offices became inter-regional, the work on studying the personnel in military units weakened.
The Federation Council doesn’t stand apart from the problem. Last month we held a guest session at the base of the Academy of State Defense, which has a special institution dealing with mobilization training. We considered implementation of the Law on Mobilization and Mobilization Training. It is necessary to build the well-developed system which used to be in the Soviet Union. The Defense Minister stands for the position that at least military commissioners should be military people who would be responsible. Study of the designated personnel is being improved. However, there are problems, even though laws have been adopted.
I think at the initial stage the Defense Minister had different tasks – to solve problems of acting units, to develop a schedule of military study. I know Sergei Shoygu, and he doesn’t leave problems unsolved. I think he will put military training in order, and men who are reserve soldiers will sometimes remember the nice months of their military service in the Armed Forces.
- Victor Sergeyevich, we are in the studio of Vestnik Kavkaza. What is your attitude toward the region? How often do you visit it?
- The first time I visited the Caucasus was due to the Ossetian-Ingush conflict. I was a member of the commission which dealt with the problems of the conflict; and I had no time to enjoy the Caucasus. Wherever I go in the Russian Federation, it is our land, our territory. This is our home. The Caucasus, the mountains, the fresh air, the history are amazing.
During my last visit to Ingushetia, after landing we immediately transferred to a helicopter and flew to open a rescue center of the EMERCOM in the mountainous part of Ingushetia. While flying, I watched the nature from above. I was born and raised in Siberia; now I live in the Far East. For me the Caucasus is the free air of mountains and people. I remember my first dinner there, when Akhsarbek Galazov was the president of North Ossetia. I remember the diversity of Caucasus food; I am still impressed. When they say ‘Let’s drink some tea’, it may last for two-three hours, and of course there will not be tea. So I am always glad to visit the Caucasus, I am happy to meet the people, especially the elderly. I always ask – please, let’s talk to aksakals, what they think about us, the youth, considering their age and experience.
I have many friends who have been my colleagues in the military college, in the Military Academy, in the Federation Council. I visit Vladikavkaz every year; I have a friend there, our families are good friends, we visit each other gladly. The Caucasus is a part of Russia where I am glad to be.
- Have you been to the South Caucasus?
- Of course, I have been there many times. By the way, in Ingushetia I was asked about prospects of Ilham Aliyev’s party in the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. I answered and I am happy that I was right. It was difficult to be wrong.
Unfortunately, Georgia is becoming a different Georgia, not the one which heartily welcomed and embraced all guests from all regions of the Soviet Union and the RF. I think time is a healer, and it will cure Georgian politicians, as people are still friendly and hospitable there. They remember the history and always say that politicians make us fight. As a politician, I have always done and will always do my best so that Yerevan, Baku and Tbilisi welcome us heartily and say goodbye to us as to close relatives. This is the future of the Caucasus, and nobody can make the proud peoples who love their history live above the laws of the mountains. And these laws can’t stand chicken-heartedness or cheating; they love courageous, bold, resolute people. Such people live in the Caucasus.
