I Have Spoken with Corps Commanders Who Are Listening to Us, New Defense Minister to Pashinyan

At the Defense Ministry, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan introduced the new Minister of Defense, Arshak Karapetyan.

"The role of the Minister of Defense here is difficult to overestimate. Mr. Karapetyan, I wish you success in serving and advancing this agenda. Of course, we have been working together for quite a long time, practically for over two years, and I hope that our joint work history will help us in synchronizing the Defense Ministry, other government bodies and the Armed Forces. Therefore, I wish us all success on this path," said the Prime Minister.

In his turn, Vagharshak Harutyunyan noted that we have a military-political situation that demands we have a combat-ready army. "The most crucial task today is to complete our reforms. This is the guarantee that will ensure our state’s security. I want to thank you all for our joint service and wish you good service. I remain in your ranks," he said.

The newly appointed Minister of Defense, Arshak Karapetyan, assured that they understand the current situation and that everything will be done to protect the country’s borders from enemy encroachments.

"Mr. Prime Minister, allow me on behalf of all of us—from the soldier to the minister—to congratulate you on assuming the office of Prime Minister for a second time and on the mandate received from our people. I want to assure you that we understand the situation we are in, we understand what conditions we are assuming these positions under, and we do not regard them merely as jobs. I have spoken with the Corps commanders who are listening to us, I have spoken with the commander of the Defense Army. We consider this our duty, the duty of an Armenian man, an Armenian officer to defend his country. We will do everything to ensure peace in our country against enemy encroachments, we will do everything to protect our borders and, with the already initiated investments and reforms, to restore the resources of the Armenian army so that the RA Armed Forces can be among the powerful armies with a reputation in the region. Thank you for your confidence, and I wish us all success in this endeavor. God protect us," said the newly appointed minister.