YEREVAN. – Today we celebrate the day of the victorious army, which fulfilled the dream of the Armenian people and secured a victory 600 years later; we were able to liberate territories for the first time. Armenia’s former Minister of Defense Vagharshak Harutyunyan said this in a conversation with reporters today at Yerablur Military Pantheon.

According to him, today the combat-readiness of the Armenian army prevents war, and if Azerbaijan does not try to attack now, it is due to this combat-readiness.

"In recent times, new weapons of antiaircraft defense and radio electronic combat have been acquired, which have increased our army's combat-readiness," he said. “The most important issue is that today the incidents of ceasefire violations have been reduced, even on the line of contact. It is simply linked to the combat-readiness of our army. Our army has grown stronger ever since the ceasefire, and it will be growing stronger. The most important task of the state today is to ensure military and political balance."

And with respect to the opposition's skepticism of the new Armenian authorities' steps to protect the country, Harutyunyan said: "We clearly see that the army budget has increased by 28% over the past year, with the most serious weapons being obtained (...).

The capacity of the army is also linked to funding, and there is a growth here. In addition, you see that money has been allocated so that we improve the living conditions in the military units carrying out combat service. The salaries of the officers have increased. ”

Vagharshak Harutyunyan expressed confidence that the Armenian army is and continues to be combat-ready.