- Mr. Tonoyan, within the framework of the preparatory work for the new iteration of the RA Strategic Defence Review, the U.S. and the UK Joint Advisory Group was in Armenia. Can you elaborate what the new stage of the "RA Strategic Defense Review" means? - First of all, the Strategic Defense Review is an important component of mid- and long-term defense planning so with each stage of long-term planning we start with this process. Consequently, this process of SDR is explained by the transition from 2011-2015 Planning Phase to 2016-2020 Implementation Phase. The Strategic Defense Review is a process which helps to make an assessment of the security environment in terms of risks and threats. The planning process is organized upon planning assumptions, priorities and decisions and constitutes preparation or revision of plans and programs on Armed Forces missions and development, including the mid-term expenditures programs. The necessity to make structural changes in the RA Armed Forces will also depend on the Strategic Defense Review outcomes. - Does it apply to military equipment and defence systems? - Naturally, outcomes of Strategic Defense Review apply to all components of the defense area. The main goal is the planning - to understand what structure, capabilities, organization, resources in general are necessary for the Armed Forces to confront identified challenges and threats in the security environment; to set the priorities and plan financial requirements. This embraces all components, including the defense industry complex, procurement of military equipment, human resources management, etc. - Do these structural and other changes aim to accommodate more to the North Atlantic system- given the fact that recommendations are rendered by international partners in face of the United Stated and the United Kingdom? - The significance of the international advisory assistance is not in receiving support in a specific area from a specific country, but in integrating a planning culture. Therefore, international advisory assistance is focusing on the methodology of the process and on a comprehensive planning system formation. In general, each country has its own experience. The Great Britain and the United States have long developed that culture which is exemplary for us, considering the fact that the first ever Strategic Defense Review was carried out by the Great Britain and the United States does it every four years. I must say that Russian Federation is also undergoing the process of harmonising the defense area planning with the new economic environment and we of course closely cooperate with the Russian Federation in this field. It is noteworthy that Armenia and Russia carry out a joint planning of the defense field on an extensive basis. - Mr. Tonoyan, the origins of the Armenian Armed Forces formation hold the legacy of the Soviet Army because along with volunteers Soviet officers also joined the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia. Could we define the Armenian Army as a successor of the Soviet Army with its structure and other components? - The Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia are not formed only on the basis of the Soviet Army legacy but also on the national experience of Artsakh Liberation War. The combination of these two factors makes our armed forces special. We should also take account of the fact that the field of defense, the art of warfare which lies in the heart of former and standards used in the armed forces are constantly enhancing, because of the security environment, the nature of threats and countermeasures continuously changing on the global scale. Our goal is to ensure the development of Armenia`s Armed Forces in conformity with these processes; its readiness to confront the new threats; its capabilities to carry out modern military operations; necessary equipment and skills. Therefore, we integrate all modern standards into the development process of our armed forces irrespective of their nature- whether national, Soviet, Russian or Western. - Mr. Tonoyan, a while ago we were informed from the Ministry of Defense about intention to review and rename the titles ranks and officer grades into a patriotic, traditional and historical manner. In other words, new titles such as "Hazarapet`` "Tasnapet", etc. were supposed to be introduced. Do you find it feasible? - Indeed, long ago such proposals were subject to consideration but not at present since with the current ranking system it doesn`t appear to be reasonable. Military ranks and titles in the RA Armed Forces totally comply with the logic and grammar of the Armenian language. We should also bear in mind the importance of compatibility and interoperability for the RA Armed Forces in the international integration domain, and this also refers to common ranks and titles, as well as other components.