We are an army that becomes more combat-ready every day: David Tonoyan sends New Year message

The Minister of Defense of Armenia, David Tonoyan, has sent a New Year message. He stated, “The past year 2019 was marked by a number of important achievements for the Armenian army, starting from the replenishment of modern weaponry, to the introduction of a new system for providing decent food for the soldiers of our victorious army. The accomplishments can be listed at length. But for me, as the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, our greatest achievement is the change recorded in all our perceptions regarding the ideology of organizing the defense of the Motherland and the commitment to a special attitude of the state towards the defender of the homeland.

The history of humanity has long proven that any army that defines as its main task the trench defense of the country’s security is doomed to defeat from the very outset. Therefore, we needed to rethink our perceptions while looking for answers to very important questions: ‘What should we do?’, ‘How should we do it?’, and ‘What resources should we use?’. These answers also depended on our future actions: what should we teach the conscripts of the modern Armenian army—to be well-versed in the basic principles of trench defense, or to prepare determined fighters capable of brilliantly performing combat tasks in enemy territory at any moment?

What should the officers of the modern Armenian army be like—merely lieutenants, majors, or colonels who are adept in the subtleties of military affairs, or should they be highly educated, physically fit, and intellectually capable leaders prepared to solve any challenges with their units? What should our army’s armament be like—equipment designed solely for effective defense, or ultra-modern and diverse means capable of overwhelming the enemy in their own territory?

What should be the provisions and clothing of the soldiers tasked with such challenges, how should their social issues be addressed, and so on? At first glance, these seem like endless questions whose answers nonetheless needed to be found in order to move forward. And let us proudly note that together—from the private who securely holds the frontline combat positions to the general who has devoted his life exclusively to military service—we have managed to do the most important thing: change many perceptions, solve many seemingly difficult problems, and make significant strides towards a new quality army.

The Armenian army is no longer merely a peacekeeper through trench defense; we are an army that becomes more combat-ready, more powerful, and more unpredictable for the enemy every day. We are an army whose armament is becoming more diverse, more modern, and more lethal. We are an army whose fighters receive brilliant education, are constantly under the care of the state, and are fully aware that they are carrying out the most important mission in our country.

The most significant achievement of 2019 in this regard is more than evident: we are already on the right path to affirming the victory we have woven, and if necessary, to reaffirm it for the enemy in a painfully dramatic manner.

Dear colleagues, let us reiterate and recognize that in the eternal struggle of sword and shield, the sword will eventually win at some point: this is a proven truth. Let us be proactive. And let us be proactive not only on the front line or only against the enemy, but also in our everyday activities. Passivity, always waiting for orders, merely performing tasks, or executing them in an accepted manner should become fundamentally unacceptable for us. In this case, it is especially pertinent to recall our motto: ‘DO MORE THAN…’. I propose that this year we follow this logic—each of us doing at least a little, but more than…

I congratulate all of you on the occasion of the holidays, and may 2020 be marked by secure borders and a stable security system, becoming a year of happiness, warmth, and achievements in all your families.

With warm wishes and confidence in our joint successes,

David Tonoyan.