Wednesday, March 15 2023 14:21

ArmInfo.To strengthen the armed forces, it is necessary, first of all, to identify all the existing problems. RA Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan stated this to journalists on March 15.

According to him, having eliminated the existing problems, it is  necessary to move forward. As for the spirit of the army, as the head  of the defense department emphasized, this issue is the subject of  daily work, in which an important place is given to the public. , Papikyan noted, adding that the armed  forces today are equipped with weapons to the extent that resources  allow. The issue is resolved on a daily basis. However, the minister  did not reveal how many weapons and equipment were acquired and from  which countries, stating that it is national security information.  For this reason, he stated that he did not intend to return to  publications in the Indian, Russian, Iranian mass media, or another  ones.

At the same time, commenting on the statement of  third President of  the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan that during the 44-day war of  2020, the entire defense potential was not used in Artsakh, Papikyan  mentioned that he is not aware of exactly what kind of unused weapon  he was talking about.  ,  the head of the defense department stressed.

Answering the question of journalists about whether he is ready to  sell the apartment he bought in Yerevan, the head of the defense  department noted that this issue will be recorded in his declaration  on property and income. , the head of the defense department said, adding that  another 300 residential premises were sold in the area where the  apartment was purchased.

Commenting on the publications of the Armenian media about his  imminent resignation from the post of minister, Papikyan said that he  did not intend to leave the work he had begun halfway, and for this  reason he was not going to leave his post. "I will continue the  initiated reforms in the armed forces, and time will show how  successful this will be," the minister said, pointing, among other  things, to replenishing the army with contract soldiers, transferring  the armed forces to a professional basis, one of the manifestations  of which was the "Defender Fatherland" program , in which the army  was replenished with hundreds of people. Serious work continues to  replenish the army with officers, work is underway in the direction  of replenishing the Vazgen Sargsyan military university and the  aviation school, while simultaneously solving social issues,  including the provision of officers with apartments and certification  of military personnel.  "Soon another large package of bills will be  submitted to the country's parliament, which will become another  direction in the reform program," Suren Papikyan stressed.