The State Leadership's Task is to Recruit Experienced Forces, Regardless of Party Affiliation - Seyran Ohanyan

The former Minister of Defense of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan, congratulated everyone on the 28th anniversary of the Armenian Army on his Facebook page. The post is as follows:

Dear compatriots,

On January 28, we celebrate the 28th anniversary of our beloved Army. I sincerely congratulate everyone on this cherished holiday:

• the entire Armenian nation, citizens of all nations living in Armenia and Artsakh,
• our immortal heroes and talented commanders throughout our history,
• our grandfathers and fathers forged in the fires of the Great Patriotic War,
• the glorious fighters and veterans of the Artsakh War,
• the relatives of fallen and missing freedom fighters,
• our young generation, filled with the spirit of valiant ancestors, endowed with their fathers' heroism, courageous, creative, and bold,
• the entire personnel of the Armenian Army—generals, officers, non-commissioned officers, sergeants, soldiers, and all those who have stood firm at their positions from the Artsakh Liberation War to the April War and continue to face the provocations of the adversary with resilience and professionalism.

It is evident that we have shaped both the security of Armenia and Artsakh and the Armenian Army collectively as a nation, and for that reason, after many years of service in the Army, I consider the soldier on duty and the Armenian citizen residing along the border to be of the same stature. In a moment of crisis for the state, they will perform the same task—united in defending our Motherland.

Thanks to years of strategic planning and the state-level military exercises conducted, it is clear today that imposing peace is a broader concept. Ensuring the security of the state, society, and the individual, promoting sustainable development, and preserving Armenian identity are carried out through the implementation of a unified state policy based on democratic values across all sectors of life. The main guarantees of this include:

• the effectiveness of the state governance system,
• the supremacy of law,
• the rooting of democratic values,
• the impartiality and independence of the judiciary,
• the combat readiness of the armed forces,
• the effective functioning of security and law enforcement bodies,
• a foreign policy that ensures effective international engagement,
• the provision of social justice.

I would also add:

• a dramatic improvement in demographic conditions,
• the balanced development of the state and the fight against the causes of urbanization,
• the dynamic development of the economy.

It is clear, isn’t it? That only one of the mentioned guarantees pertains to the combat readiness of the armed forces, while the others can be attained through justice and internal cohesion—especially important for a small country with developed infrastructures, abundant natural resources, external routes, and no access to the sea.

Every state is characterized by its territory, population, and economy. Its military potential components include the economy, the army with its mobilization readiness, and the patriotic education of the population and the younger generation. As you can see, the economy is decisive in all options. For developing countries, as a primary component of military potential, especially for army-dependent economies, it is even more critical than the army itself.

Simply put, from a military perspective, we can assert that, in modern joint military operations, the factors ensuring victory are the soldier (the person) and the weaponry, whereas in the "operation" of a country's development, the person remains integral, and their "weapon" is the economy: the shovel, the hoe, the hammer, the lathe, the machine, the computer, modern technologies...

Over the years, a strategy for development has been rooted in the army, and it has been proven that it is an ever-evolving structure that has advanced rapidly, thanks to the leadership's efforts both in previous years and today. Now, it is time for the country's economy to develop with the same rapid pace. It is essential to provide the people gradually with the "weapons" necessary for work and to report regularly to them.

The direct obligation of the state and government—the most crucial obligation—is to develop a strategy for the development of all sectors of the economy and to set aside everything and implement it consistently. This will be the greatest help to the people and the army.

The task of state leadership is to recruit all our healthy, experienced forces—regardless of team or party affiliation—and without wasting any time, to engage in the economy (let the trivial matters be dealt with separately). It is time to prove our words with concrete actions. Each of us is obliged to support this program in our own positions, recognizing that procrastination will lead to a loss of our children's future.

We must understand and acknowledge that the additional value created by the economy, endowed with the "weapon" given to the people, will empower the state and the army. Where the army and the people are united, they are invincible.

On this festive day, with special recognition and gratitude, I once again congratulate the generals, officers, and especially the commanders serving in the front lines, who are in the most difficult but honorable position in our Armenian reality. They bear on their shoulders both the best traditions of our ancestors and the safety and preparedness of their beloved younger brothers, the soldiers, in this enduring difficult situation of neither war nor peace, as well as the trials and triumphs.

To restore our traditional fighting spirit, pan-Armenian solidarity and unity for national ideological revival, the intellectual and voluntary movement of 1988 must now continue with the intellectuals alongside our army's officers, who, I believe, should together form the foundation of Armenian nobility.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY BELOVED ARMENIAN ARMY!

Wishing you constant victories... And may our people’s victories in the future be in the fields of economy, science, education, culture, and diplomacy.