“The sole duty of the army is to protect the internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Armenia.”
Modern.az reports, citing Armenian media, that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this while speaking at a military parade held in Yerevan on May 28 in connection with Republic Day.
According to him, the Armenian army should not be used outside the borders of the republic, with the exception of peacekeeping missions carried out on the basis of international agreements. The Prime Minister noted that the acquisition of the weapons demonstrated at today's parade was possible precisely thanks to this approach.
“Until 2022, foreign military equipment and weapons markets were mostly closed or Armenia's access to them was difficult. International partners refused to supply us with weapons because they were convinced that Armenia would use those weapons outside its internationally recognized territory. Only after the agreements reached in Prague, after Armenia and Azerbaijan recognized each other's territorial integrity on the basis of the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, did the international arms market open for Yerevan,” said the head of the Armenian government.
Pashinyan added that weapons produced in 7 countries (Russia, India, France, Iran, China) were demonstrated at today's parade. According to him, the geography of this military cooperation is the result of a policy based on the concept of “Real Armenia”.
“The parade also showcases equipment and weapons produced in Armenia itself. This production is taking its first, but confident steps to take its place in the international market today,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
According to Pashinyan, since 2022, the Armenian government has invested approximately 170 billion drams in the military-industrial complex.
