Category: 2022

Armenian Armed Forces celebrate 30th anniversary of foundation

 08:35,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Republic of Armenia and Armenians around the world celebrate the 30th anniversary of foundation of the Armenian Armed Forces on January 28.

The formation of the Armenian Armed Forces coincides with 1992-1994, when the newly independent Republic of Armenia, along with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, being in undeclared but de facto war with Azerbaijan, simultaneously embarked on the creation of a national army. The Declaration of Independence of 1990, however, played a decisive role in the creation of the Armenian Army.

On January 28, 1992, the Government adopted the historic decision titled “On the Defense Ministry of Armenia”, heralding the formation of the Armenian Armed Forces. In May of 1992, the Defense Ministry carried out the first drafting.

The establishment of the Armenian Armed Forces passed through several stages. The first stage lasted from February 1988 to May 1992. In this period, ensuring the safety and security of the populations of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh was more than pressing, as the Karabakh Movement became active and the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations escalated.

The second stage, June 1992 – May 1994, when the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh were in the crosshairs of the Azerbaijani aggression.

The third stage began since June 1994 and continues to present day. During this period, significant works were carried out in the direction of improving the combat readiness of the troops, strengthening discipline, training of officers, Army-public relations etc.

In September of 1990, the special regiment of Yerevan was formed, while five companies were established in Ararat, Goris, Vardenis, Ijevan and Meghri. In 1991, the Government approved the formation of the State Committee of Defense.

Men aged 18-27 are subject to compulsory military service in Armenia for a two year period. Drafting is carried out twice a year – in winters and summers. In 2017 the Defense Ministry introduced “I am”, “I have honor” and “Outlook” service options.

Since its establishment, the Armenian Armed Forces have cooperated and continue cooperating with international organizations.

On May 15, 1992, Armenia became a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Military cooperation with Russia has a great role in the international cooperation field of the Armenian Armed Forces. Russia is Armenia’s strategic partner and the defense cooperation between the states is on a high level.

Cooperation with NATO is also expanding year by year.

The Armenian Armed Forces greatly focus on training and educating highly skilled personnel. With this purpose, the Military aviation college was formed, which later transformed into the Military-Aviation institute, the Defense Ministry’s Command College was established – currently the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Institute, and the military-medical faculty of the Yerevan State Medical University.

Graduates of the abovementioned institutions have continued trainings in foreign educational facilities. Namely, more than 1500 officers and cadets have trained and continue training in Russia and Greece.

Armenian peacekeepers have a significant role in the history of the Armenian Armed Forces. Due to the peacekeepers, various countries around the world saw and appreciated the highly skilled and professional Armenian soldiers.

On February 12, 2004, Armenia deployed a platoon-sized unit (three squads) to Kosovo to join the NATO peacekeeping mission as part of the Greek peacekeeping contingent.

In 2005, Armenia deployed peacekeeping forces consisting of sappers, engineers and doctors to Iraq. The mission was on duty until 2009.

Armenian servicemen are carrying out peacekeeping missions also in Afghanistan since 2010.

Since November 26, 2014, Armenian peacekeepers are deployed in Lebanon, within the UNIFIL.

In 2015, one peacekeeper was dispatched to Mali on a monitoring-peacekeeping mission.

The Armenian Army has been and will remain the guarantor of security and borders of Armenia.

 11:08,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan addressed a congratulatory message on the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Armenian Armed Forces, his Office said.

The message runs as follows:

“Dear compatriots,

Respectful representatives of the Armed Forces,

I congratulate all of us on the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.

During these three decades the Armenian Army has both glorious days and passed through many challenges.

The Armenian people appreciate the heroism of all our heroes, those soldiers, officers, generals and volunteers who have fought until the end for the defense, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Homeland.

Today we are moving on the path of systematic reforms aimed at further developing the Armed Forces, by re-assessing the past path of the Army, the advantages, shortcomings and problems it had. The Republic of Armenia will have a professional army, and the government will carry out that work tirelessly, without depression and pessimism, but with optimism on the path of building the security environment. Improving the Army’s combat preparedness, armament and the military service conditions is our priority.

Since 2018, the government of Armenia has started the process of improving the social and living conditions of servicemen, and it will be continuous. Each soldier and officer of Armenia must feel the state’s support, and we will be consistent in that process. Military, officer service must be a subject of special public respect and appreciation, which must be expressed by the system of special social guarantees to the servicemen and their families.

In line with this, the intellectual, professional, physical and psychological preparedness criteria of service assessment must also be raised, and the public respect and appreciation towards the Army must be based on these points.

Dear compatriots,

On the occasion of the Army Day, I would like to specifically thank all volunteers, soldiers, officers and generals who contributed to the formation of the Armenian Army.

I would like to thank all defenders of our Homeland, all servicemen for the sacrifices they made for unconditionally serving to our country and people in these difficult conditions.

I also want to thank their families for the patience, tenacity.

I bow before our heroes: their memory is immortal, their work is sacred.

God bless the Armenian Army!”

 11:12,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. 3536 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Armenia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 361,754, the ministry of health reported.

8707 COVID-19 tests were conducted on January 27.

267 patients have recovered in one day. The total number of recoveries has reached 335,227.

The death toll has risen to 8035 (no new death case).

The number of active cases is 16,965.

 11:26,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The high-ranking officials of Armenia visited today the Yerablur Military Pantheon on the 30^th anniversary of the foundation of the Armenian Army to pay tribute to the memory of all heroes fallen for the defense of the Homeland.

Deputy Prime Ministers Mher Grigoryan and Hambardzum Matevosyan, Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and other officials laid a wreath at the monument honoring the memory of heroes, as well as flowers at the tombs of soldiers.

Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan, Vice Speakers and a number of lawmakers also honored the memory of heroes at the Military Pantheon.

 11:30,

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan received a group of members of the Union of War Volunteers of Artsakh to bestow them with state awards on the occasion of the Homeland Defender’s Day, his Office said.

President Harutyunyan thanked the meeting participants for their service to the Homeland and stated that the consequences of the last war cannot distract them from the path of state-building, the Armenian people are fighting for more than thirty years.

 11:32,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Embassy of the United States in Armenia addressed a congratulatory statement on social media on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces on January 28.

“As Armenia honors its armed forces today, we recognize those who have served and express our gratitude for Armenia’s partnership with us, including in international peacekeeping efforts. We honor those who have fallen in defense of their nation and salute the families and citizens who support them”, the Embassy said in a statement.

The Republic of Armenia and Armenians around the world celebrate the 30th anniversary of foundation of the Armenian Armed Forces on January 28.

 11:49,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan reassures that the gas price for needy families will not rise this year, and as for the Eurasian Economic Union, he said that the discussions on the gas supply tariffs within the Union are being held.

“At this moment I can only say for sure that the gas tariff for needy people will not increase. This opportunity exists as the gas price on border will not change in 2022. We just have a situation that there was a formula by an agreement signed in 2013 the implementation of which starts in 2022”, he told reporters at a briefing.

Gas price is formed by several components, one of which and the most important is the price on border. As for the price for the business, the deputy PM proposed to wait and see what kind of tariff plan will be made as a result of the discussions in the Public Services Regulatory Commission. However, he thinks that the difference between the gas price on border and the gas price in the world is so big that there should not be any competitive shock for the Armenian producer. “Not only our manufacturers, but also the gas consuming producers of our region depend on the gas price. The gas price has increased for all, there are countries where the price has increased much more than it could for the potential businesses in Armenia. I don’t think it will have a competitive shock effect for those businesses which consume gas or electricity a lot”, Mher Grigoryan said.

As for the question relating to the gas price in the EAEU, he said that the rule of the common market will enter into force from 2024. He attached importance to two components – the cost of gas and transportation, its cost. According to him, the latter is a subject of much more complex discussions. And the discussions on this continue in the EAEU. Grigoryan hopes that a common model will be achieved. “There is a consensus about the single gas price, it wouldn’t be difficult to come to that consensus, but there are discussions and debates about the gas transportation, in other words, the supply tariffs. I hope there will be unity in the EAEU on this matter”, Mher Grigoryan said.