Armenia planning to attract more women into the militaryAugust 24, 2021 - 14:58 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian authorities plan to attract more women into the country's armed forces, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the parliament on Tuesday, August 24. According to Pashinyan, "certain forces" are trying to present the army reform agenda as an attempt to shift to an aggressive policy, as a willingness to start a war. "This is not true. Armenia, like any other peaceful country, will boost the armed forces not for aggression, but for the protection of its sovereignty. Armenia is not going to fight and seize territories," the Prime Minister said. Pashinyan noted that Armenia will gradually switch to a professional army, while the structure of conscription will change significantly. In a professional army, he said, soldiers remain on duty 24 hours a day, but instead of the border they are sent to places of permanent deployment. The authorities believe that the protection of the border should be carried out by border troops. The head of government also noted the importance of the technological modernization of the army, the introduction of an automated fire system, increasing the attractiveness of military service, the quality of military education, and the involvement of more women in combat units of the armed forces. Pashinyan cited an "exclusively pragmatic calculation" as a reason behind the government's push to attract more women into the military. Women, according to him, make up the majority of the country's population, so their potential should be used in various fields. He said, however, women won't be performing the exact same tasks in the army as men. It is about making the most of the resources at hand, he added. 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 | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |