ArmInfo. Military security for Armenia is a direct and long- term challenge imposed on it, Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan said.
He said that Armenia was able to not only find its national identity, but also to defend it during an unequal and cruel but heroic war. Sargsyan noted that the Armenian army is a national army, which has ensured the Armenian people's security for 25 years.
"An army-nation is something more than a national army, because a national army serves the nation, while the army-nation is the nation itself. One cannot isolate the society from the army or take the army away from people. An army- nation is a society that acts as a single whole, but it does not at all mean militarization. On the contrary, it means democratization of the army, total integration with the society, education, science, ecology and sport. An army-nation is the society and the armed forces, where there is only one step between the innovation sciences and military industry, where economy develops and strengthens at the expense of the army's orders, investments, opportunities," Sargsyan said.
He pointed out that Armenia will have to maintain a large army. So, a big number of Armenian citizens will receive military pensions. A serviceman should improve his knowledge and skills throughout his service and after retirement he should integrate into the society and make his own contribution to the country's development. Sargsyan added that an army-nation also means caring for the servicemen with disabilities and supporting the families of those killed when fighting for the Motherland.
"An army-nation is an army that contributes to ensuring of international security and openly and confidently speaks with its big and small partners. It is not so easy to build an army-nation. It needs hard work, self-consciousness and selflessness," Sargsyan said, stressing the need to embark on that road towards new victories.