I Apologize to All Parents Whose Children Died in the Army; The Sun Will Rise - Pashinyan

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, delivered a message on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the Armenian Army. In his message, he stated:

“Dear people, dear compatriots, Armenian army servicemen, reservists, generals, officers, conscripts, and contract servicemen,

Today we celebrate the 31st anniversary of our army's formation and first of all honor the memory of those martyrs who gave their lives for the Homeland. Against all adversities, it is they who inspire us and empower us with the understanding that our struggle for statehood, for sovereignty, independence, and security cannot fail if there is dedication, if there is faith.

Today, thousands of devoted individuals serving in the Armenian army are serving the Republic of Armenia, its independence, sovereignty, and statehood, and we must do everything to ensure that the quality of their service improves. We need to change the quality of service they provide, and change the quality of the service rendered to them.

This is why the government has embarked on extensive reforms in the army, with the aim of making each soldier and officer more capable and professional, while also more prosperous. At the heart of these reforms are reforms in military education, which are also in the implementation phase.

Currently, we are also establishing a senior officer school, which, in our vision, should meet the best modern standards and become a forge for the formation of a new class of officers. We plan to introduce a completely new volunteer-contracted military service for women in the Republic of Armenia, and today I want to express special gratitude to our sisters who are serving our army, including in combat roles.

We are in the process of replacing three-month training camps with one-month or 25-day training camps, as the readiness of reserve forces is just as important as that of regular servicemen.

We are taking steps to equip our army with modern weapons and technology, while also trying to encourage local manufacturers as much as possible. The defense budget for 2023 has more than doubled compared to 2018, and on this occasion, I want to thank all the taxpayers who make it possible to implement reforms in security and other sectors through their work and lawful behavior.

But the process of reform is not without its challenges in the army either because the security environment brings new challenges that sometimes provoke serious errors. The tragedy that occurred on January 19 in the village of Azat in Gegharkunik region, which claimed the lives of 15 more of our children, is suffocating us. And I want to apologize to the parents and relatives of all the soldiers who fell victim to the horrific fire.

I apologize to all the parents whose children died in the army due to non-statutory relations and unacceptable relationships and situations arising from failures and errors of the state or government.

At the same time, I bow before the parents and relatives of our soldiers, officers, and volunteers who fell in battle while defending the Homeland. I thank all those families where consciousness of the sacrifices needed for the Fatherland-State was instilled along with milk and bread, understanding that nothing should be spared for civil duty.

This understanding and consciousness are what build states. And in conclusion, I would like to thank all the servicemen, from privates to officers and generals, who selflessly serve the Armenian army and our state.

I send brotherly greetings to our brothers and sisters who spend Army Day at combat positions often surrounded by several meters of snow. The sun will rise; spring will come. Happy Armenian Army Day.

And so: Long live Freedom, long live the Republic of Armenia, long live our children who will live in a Free and Happy Armenia.”