The only task of the army is to protect the internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this during the military parade held in Yerevan's Republic Square, dedicated to the 108th anniversary of the proclamation of the First Republic of Armenia.

According to Pashinyan, Armenia’s army should not be used outside the borders of the country, with the exception of peacekeeping missions carried out on the basis of international treaties. As the Armenian premier noted, the weapons being displayed at the military parade today were acquired thanks to this approach.

“Until 2022, foreign markets for military equipment and weapons were mostly closed [for Armenia], or Armenia did not have access to them. International partners were refusing to supply us with weapons, as they were convinced that Armenia would use them outside its internationally recognized territory. And only after the agreements reached in Prague, when Armenia and Azerbaijan recognized each other’s territorial integrity on the basis of the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, the international arms market was opened for Yerevan,” the Armenian PM said.

Pashinyan noted that today’s military parade will showcase weapons produced in seven countries. The geographical scope of this military cooperation, he said, is the result of a policy based on the “Real Armenia” concept.

“The parade will also showcase [military] equipment and weapons produced in Armenia itself. Today, this production is taking its first, but confident steps to take its place in the international market,” the Armenian premier added.

Nikol Pashinyan touched also upon the history of the First Republic of Armenia, and noted that it influenced today’s decisions.

“The historical memory of the First Republic has played an important role in the matter of establishing peace. And today, Armenia is overcoming the ‘temporary statehood’ complex,” the Armenian prime minister concluded.