Updates
Statements and messages of the President of RA
14
03, 2011
President Serzh Sargsyan’s remarks at the sitting of the Board of Police
Generals and Officers,
The reports that have been presented to us prove that reforms in the Police are underway. There is a goal, a precise course and necessary steps are being taken. I would like to invite your attention to the pace of the reforms, swiftness of reform implementation and, eventually, the outcome of the reforms. Sufficient amount of works has already been conducted for the improvement of the legal field and guidelines. However, the time has come to see some serious results in the practical field, in real life – we need to see them, you need to see them, our society needs to see them.
I attach great importance to the comprehension of the importance of these reforms, which here in the Police, is rather noticeable. However, no major program can advance if there is no united approach towards the principles, objectives, form and idea around it. We need to talk about this constantly. I will be participating much more actively in the processes of police reformation. I will be involved on a daily basis in the resolution of the problems which impede the reformation; I will support positive developments, stand by dedicated policemen, assist in promotion of professional and committed cadre. Together, we will be working on creating new opportunities, getting funds, improvement of technical base, more rapid establishment of professional groups, as well as on other issues.
We have set a concrete goal to implement a large package of social guarantees for the police force. Unfortunately, the economic crisis postponed our programs. Even though the wages and basic rates have been raised, they are still far from the rate we would like to have. Thank God, opportunities of the economy are growing, the framework of cooperation programs is expanding, and we can anticipate new results in this area. I state this in response to your request or proposal.
At the same time, we will be much more intolerant towards unacceptable conduct –bribery, the so called “institute of high patronage” and indecent behavior and abuse of office.
We will be firm and principled in preserving and maintaining the achievements and conducting reforms. For instance, we speak often about problems of traffic police; in some cases we register change, later we observe retreat. It looks like it’s becoming habitual. We should facilitated the introduction of new technical systems, particularly, the program presented by Mr. Osikian, to determine speed and register violations, install video cameras, to minimize the policeman-driver interaction together make this entire system irreversible and moving forward. Otherwise, it will not work. Certainly, problems are numerous but we will not stop or slow down.
Generals and Officers,
The law provides the police with the authority to use force. The implementation of that authority puts an enormous burden on your shoulders. This responsibility is probably commensurate with the responsibility of a surgeon before the patient.
I would like to highlight some factors which are important for your successful work:
First of all, I attach great importance to your civic conscious. A good policeman, a good citizen should be a mature person, confident in his mission.
Second, while endowing the police with significant authority, the law imposes also restrictions and demands on law enforcement bodies. Your personal position regarding any issue or phenomenon must not impede the realization of these profound requirements. This is, undoubtedly, a very complicated issue. However, you cannot become a good policeman without addressing that problem. And we do need good police force. A doctor cannot have reservations regarding a patient who has different political or civic views. The same goes for the policemen.
Third, you are provided with the authority and responsibility to make decisions at discretion. It is impossible to have a recipe for every occurrence, particularly a legal one. It is impossible to foresee all controversial situations and avert every violation. For that very reason, while fulfilling responsibilities envisaged by law, the policeman is guided by certain basics. The law enforcement agents cannot act efficiently without them.
Nevertheless, discretion must be used in the framework of human and civil rights, their equality, proportionate use of authority, and exclusion of arbitrary actions. Even though violations are mostly anticipated, often they are very specific. This is the reason why values and principles, which the policeman must adhere to while performing his official duties, become even more important.
These are the basic and general values of our society. Trust of people and citizens toward the Police, the entire law enforcement system, and the state itself depends on the conformity of the decision made in discretion with the values and principles. This is your share of responsibility, your burden.
Fourth, any action by the police cannot be controversial from the view of basic and universal societal values. There still are and there will be some thorny issues. However, at all times the actions of the police should withstand the test of these values. This is the key for increasing trust towards the Police and the law enforcement system.
Sometimes, our citizens observe violations on the streets and the policeman turns his back on it. What kind of respect or trust can you have towards the policeman in the case like that? There are even more gruesome examples: the entire society knows that a murder has been committed, knows who’s has committed it but the policeman twists the case in such a way that someone else is implicated, while the real murderer remains on the loose. What is to be said of such a policeman, of the entire system? You all know that one such incident has taken place in Arabkir community. I feel embarrassed myself. If you are serious about this structure, which I want to believe is the case, you will uphold honor of the system as your own, you ought to be embarrassed yourselves. You should have stepped forward and told your superiors – it is a shame, how could you discredit our system like that? Another example – a crime, a murder attempt in Gavar; almost all material evidence is available, confession is available. A high-ranking policeman, I cannot find words to depict him, interferes. The crime is hushed up and as a result we end up with a case of hooliganism and a resultant penalty. What do you think the attitude of the people of Gavar would be towards the Police? What do you think the attitude of the population of other marzes, of Yerevan should be towards the Police? These are problems we have to solve. And this is not only a problem for the Chief of Police or his deputies, this is our common problem, a problem for all those who care about the prestige and repute of the Police.
Fifth, while fulfilling tasks facing the Police, along with stressing the importance of the police efficiency, we will continue to highlight their activities and further regulation of their service duties, define more precisely the criteria, persistent adherence to the norms of conduct and ethics, constant monitoring, and most importantly – unceasing rise of professionalism.
Only this way we can considerably limit unprincipled and arbitrary decisions and contradictory comments.
Six, I would like to stress that procedures need to be reviewed regularly. They should be in line with the current demands since a more mature society, development of market economy, and pluralism also change the values of the Armenian society.
Procedures, which regulate police activities, should not lag behind these changes, otherwise a clash between these values and the police force, which cannot stand the test, will be inevitable. Such a clash would further undermine distrust toward the police; our state and statehood, our society would weaken.
We should by all means strengthen the link between the policeman’s decision, his actions and the values of the society. We all have one goal – to serve our people and our citizens, to fortify our society and our state to face challenges of the global world and take a full advantage of its opportunities.
Seventh, the solution of this and other problems implies not only further improvement of laws and procedures but also of the police capabilities, constant development of their professional abilities. We don’t need unprofessional policemen, the system and the society also don’t need them. Actually, nobody needs them. Those, who are incapable of improving their professional abilities, should be looking for another job, because even if a person has shoulder straps of a general, colonel, lieutenant colonel or a police officer, he should not only understand the job but also be fond of it, and should measure his honor not only by his shoulder straps but also by the distinctions he wears on his chest. That would be professional approach.
Generals and Officers,
I want you to appreciate your exceptional role. I am confident that very soon every Armenian policeman will be regarded as a symbol of state and statehood, security and prosperous life, power and justice, law and order, as a protector of human rights. Burden on your shoulders is great. Very often that burden becomes even greater. I know it only too well, and not by the others’ word. As you know, I worked in this structure and appreciate the burden that the police carries on their shoulders. I know it perfectly well. There have been times when we bended under that weight but never broke down. It is very important. You fulfill your obligations with the sense of duty. It’s a great mission indeed, trust me.
Everyone makes mistakes, you’re not immune from mistakes either. Many have a right not to act. You, however, don’t have that right. Thus, you have to reduce the number of your mistakes and step by step, doggedly move forward.
The reports that have been presented to us prove that reforms in the Police are underway. There is a goal, a precise course and necessary steps are being taken. I would like to invite your attention to the pace of the reforms, swiftness of reform implementation and, eventually, the outcome of the reforms. Sufficient amount of works has already been conducted for the improvement of the legal field and guidelines. However, the time has come to see some serious results in the practical field, in real life – we need to see them, you need to see them, our society needs to see them.
I attach great importance to the comprehension of the importance of these reforms, which here in the Police, is rather noticeable. However, no major program can advance if there is no united approach towards the principles, objectives, form and idea around it. We need to talk about this constantly. I will be participating much more actively in the processes of police reformation. I will be involved on a daily basis in the resolution of the problems which impede the reformation; I will support positive developments, stand by dedicated policemen, assist in promotion of professional and committed cadre. Together, we will be working on creating new opportunities, getting funds, improvement of technical base, more rapid establishment of professional groups, as well as on other issues.
We have set a concrete goal to implement a large package of social guarantees for the police force. Unfortunately, the economic crisis postponed our programs. Even though the wages and basic rates have been raised, they are still far from the rate we would like to have. Thank God, opportunities of the economy are growing, the framework of cooperation programs is expanding, and we can anticipate new results in this area. I state this in response to your request or proposal.
At the same time, we will be much more intolerant towards unacceptable conduct –bribery, the so called “institute of high patronage” and indecent behavior and abuse of office.
We will be firm and principled in preserving and maintaining the achievements and conducting reforms. For instance, we speak often about problems of traffic police; in some cases we register change, later we observe retreat. It looks like it’s becoming habitual. We should facilitated the introduction of new technical systems, particularly, the program presented by Mr. Osikian, to determine speed and register violations, install video cameras, to minimize the policeman-driver interaction together make this entire system irreversible and moving forward. Otherwise, it will not work. Certainly, problems are numerous but we will not stop or slow down.
Generals and Officers,
The law provides the police with the authority to use force. The implementation of that authority puts an enormous burden on your shoulders. This responsibility is probably commensurate with the responsibility of a surgeon before the patient.
I would like to highlight some factors which are important for your successful work:
First of all, I attach great importance to your civic conscious. A good policeman, a good citizen should be a mature person, confident in his mission.
Second, while endowing the police with significant authority, the law imposes also restrictions and demands on law enforcement bodies. Your personal position regarding any issue or phenomenon must not impede the realization of these profound requirements. This is, undoubtedly, a very complicated issue. However, you cannot become a good policeman without addressing that problem. And we do need good police force. A doctor cannot have reservations regarding a patient who has different political or civic views. The same goes for the policemen.
Third, you are provided with the authority and responsibility to make decisions at discretion. It is impossible to have a recipe for every occurrence, particularly a legal one. It is impossible to foresee all controversial situations and avert every violation. For that very reason, while fulfilling responsibilities envisaged by law, the policeman is guided by certain basics. The law enforcement agents cannot act efficiently without them.
Nevertheless, discretion must be used in the framework of human and civil rights, their equality, proportionate use of authority, and exclusion of arbitrary actions. Even though violations are mostly anticipated, often they are very specific. This is the reason why values and principles, which the policeman must adhere to while performing his official duties, become even more important.
These are the basic and general values of our society. Trust of people and citizens toward the Police, the entire law enforcement system, and the state itself depends on the conformity of the decision made in discretion with the values and principles. This is your share of responsibility, your burden.
Fourth, any action by the police cannot be controversial from the view of basic and universal societal values. There still are and there will be some thorny issues. However, at all times the actions of the police should withstand the test of these values. This is the key for increasing trust towards the Police and the law enforcement system.
Sometimes, our citizens observe violations on the streets and the policeman turns his back on it. What kind of respect or trust can you have towards the policeman in the case like that? There are even more gruesome examples: the entire society knows that a murder has been committed, knows who’s has committed it but the policeman twists the case in such a way that someone else is implicated, while the real murderer remains on the loose. What is to be said of such a policeman, of the entire system? You all know that one such incident has taken place in Arabkir community. I feel embarrassed myself. If you are serious about this structure, which I want to believe is the case, you will uphold honor of the system as your own, you ought to be embarrassed yourselves. You should have stepped forward and told your superiors – it is a shame, how could you discredit our system like that? Another example – a crime, a murder attempt in Gavar; almost all material evidence is available, confession is available. A high-ranking policeman, I cannot find words to depict him, interferes. The crime is hushed up and as a result we end up with a case of hooliganism and a resultant penalty. What do you think the attitude of the people of Gavar would be towards the Police? What do you think the attitude of the population of other marzes, of Yerevan should be towards the Police? These are problems we have to solve. And this is not only a problem for the Chief of Police or his deputies, this is our common problem, a problem for all those who care about the prestige and repute of the Police.
Fifth, while fulfilling tasks facing the Police, along with stressing the importance of the police efficiency, we will continue to highlight their activities and further regulation of their service duties, define more precisely the criteria, persistent adherence to the norms of conduct and ethics, constant monitoring, and most importantly – unceasing rise of professionalism.
Only this way we can considerably limit unprincipled and arbitrary decisions and contradictory comments.
Six, I would like to stress that procedures need to be reviewed regularly. They should be in line with the current demands since a more mature society, development of market economy, and pluralism also change the values of the Armenian society.
Procedures, which regulate police activities, should not lag behind these changes, otherwise a clash between these values and the police force, which cannot stand the test, will be inevitable. Such a clash would further undermine distrust toward the police; our state and statehood, our society would weaken.
We should by all means strengthen the link between the policeman’s decision, his actions and the values of the society. We all have one goal – to serve our people and our citizens, to fortify our society and our state to face challenges of the global world and take a full advantage of its opportunities.
Seventh, the solution of this and other problems implies not only further improvement of laws and procedures but also of the police capabilities, constant development of their professional abilities. We don’t need unprofessional policemen, the system and the society also don’t need them. Actually, nobody needs them. Those, who are incapable of improving their professional abilities, should be looking for another job, because even if a person has shoulder straps of a general, colonel, lieutenant colonel or a police officer, he should not only understand the job but also be fond of it, and should measure his honor not only by his shoulder straps but also by the distinctions he wears on his chest. That would be professional approach.
Generals and Officers,
I want you to appreciate your exceptional role. I am confident that very soon every Armenian policeman will be regarded as a symbol of state and statehood, security and prosperous life, power and justice, law and order, as a protector of human rights. Burden on your shoulders is great. Very often that burden becomes even greater. I know it only too well, and not by the others’ word. As you know, I worked in this structure and appreciate the burden that the police carries on their shoulders. I know it perfectly well. There have been times when we bended under that weight but never broke down. It is very important. You fulfill your obligations with the sense of duty. It’s a great mission indeed, trust me.
Everyone makes mistakes, you’re not immune from mistakes either. Many have a right not to act. You, however, don’t have that right. Thus, you have to reduce the number of your mistakes and step by step, doggedly move forward.