During his visit to the Getap village of the Vayots Dzor region on Sunday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke to the residents about changing the contract service system, noting that “We need to make service more captivating and change the contract service system in general. There is an idea to introduce 3 months of service every five years so that young people can have the most basic battle skills.”
In an interview with Aravot Daily, the head of the expanded Marmashen village, ARF member Karen Arshakyan, who has fought in battles many times, told Aravot Daily about this idea, “I don’t know who gave him that idea or who spoke about that, but three-month service will simply be a preschool. I have nothing else to say. What will people learn in three months? If it is three months, we will hardly manage to fill the borders with conscripts through conscription. We have hired contract servicemen who will ask what children will manage to learn about life in the army during those three months. How will they get acquainted with weapons and ammunition?
We are surrounded by enemies. If large-scale hostilities begin, who will defend our borders? Are Russians supposed to send their children to defend us? Who will defend our borders? Shouldn’t our country have a strong army? In any case, they should have three-month gatherings. Why do we need an army if it’s only going to become Russian or Turkish? I don’t understand what he said.
Instead of strengthening the army and including girls in it… I’m not saying that girls should defend the borders, but they should be included. For example, Israel has a great strategy. Girls will understand what is happening at the border when they join the army, and they will raise their children correctly.
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They should choose the path that has already been established and working. If this statement is tied to the elections, that’s another issue, but if this is tied to a serious plan, I can’t imagine an 18 year old having the readiness to defend the borders or call themselves troops in three months.
I can also say that three months is too much, it should only be 15 days. But I also need to say why it should be 15 days or, say, 5 months, even longer. I have to provide evidence, right? Students need one year to finish a grade, but one soldier needs three months?
I believe in our boys’ bravery and patriotism, but they will certainly not be ready in three months as soldiers, as an army, and as defenders of our state,” he said.
Nune Arevshatyan
