Lawmaker: Armenian citizens can still volunteer to serve in KarabakhFebruary 6, 2021 - 14:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian citizens can still volunteer to serve in the Nagorno-Karabakh army, lawmaker from the ruling My Step bloc Andranik Kocharyan has said in an interview with Armtimes.com. Kocharyan's comments came amid uncertainty surrounding the fate of the Defense Army of Artsakh (Karabakh). Residents fear the armed forces are going to be disbanded, but officials claim the army is being reorganized and restructured. Then presidential spokesman Vahram Poghosyan said Friday, February 5 conscription in Karabakh will most probably last shorter than two years, and a professional army will be established. Kocharyan now says that Armenia, as a guarantor of Artsakh's security, must be informed about the decisions being made in the Defense Army. The lawmaker also weighed in on possible reforms in Armenia's army and said the country should create one that meets the requirements of the 21st century: "A special purpose army with fantastic weapons and a great intellectual ability." "We should strive for that now, we should have always strived for that. Since the 1994 ceasefire, we should not have kept screaming that we are the most combat-capable army in the world․ We should have done our best to at least match our capabilities to those of the enemy, so that we could protect our rights during hostilities," Kocharyan said. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” Ex-President: Only removal of “defeatist” rulers can save Armenia Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. |