Accompanied by Minister of Defense David Tonoyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia Artak Davtyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the reserve troops’ training ground during the strategic exercises due in Armenia from September 24 to October 5.

The Premier toured the campground to get acquainted with reserve servicemen’s living conditions and nutrition. Nikol Pashinyan watched the drills that featured episodes of weaponry and military equipment use. Addressing the servicemen in attendance, the Prime Minister noted:

“Dear participants in the exercises,
Dear Minister of Defense,
Dear Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures,
Dear Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces,
Dear officers and soldiers,

Military exercises of an unprecedented scale in the history of our republic are being held in the Republic of Armenia. What is the practical purpose of these exercises and why are they being held? Their practical goal is to evaluate not only the effectiveness of our Armed Forces, but also the level of combat readiness of our society as a whole.

The exercises have been held for 4 days, and we can state that their results are more than satisfactory. Within just 24 hours, another army equivalent to the army was formed in the Republic of Armenia, that is, the size of our Armed Forces doubled. And this happened because you, the citizens of the Republic of Armenia registered in the reserve, quickly, willingly and decisively responded to the appeal of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and came to the defense of the Republic of Armenia.

In fact, now it’s with great pleasure that it has been reported that within 24 hours after the announcement and the beginning of the exercises in the military commissariats of Armenia, queues of citizens appeared who hastened to fulfill their duty to the Motherland.

And first of all, I want to thank you, the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, who quickly and promptly responded and committed themselves to fulfill their duty to the Fatherland. This is extremely important because we can already say that these exercises instilled confidence in us that the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia are combat-ready, that the society of the Republic of Armenia is combat-ready, and that together we can solve the tasks set for us in organizing the defense of our Motherland.

I also want to thank the government and local governments that participated and are participating in the exercises. In fact, through these exercises we also check the level of interaction between government and local governments, how well it is established and how well it is developed.

As you know, last year we conducted the Shant command-and-staff exercises, as a result of which we made some analyzes, some corrections. These exercises have shown that we have a fairly high level of interaction between government and local governments, which also inspires confidence in our country's defense capabilities.

During the exercises, tactical exercises, fire and theoretical exercises, harmonization and so on will be conducted. And I want to note with satisfaction that I see the participants in the exercises in high fighting mood, I see their fighting spirit and devotion to the cause of defending their homeland. I also want to thank your families, who meekly and even with satisfaction state that their husbands, sons and fathers are taking part in the defense of the Motherland.

I want to wish everyone success, now I am convinced that the teachings already have good results, and that all of you will return to your civilian life with a good mood, spreading the spirit of struggle, unity, will and determination also in civilian life.

Although we now do not have a shortage of such an atmosphere either in civilian life or in the Armed Forces, the harmonization, coexistence and coordination of these atmospheres is very important for our country.

Dear participants of the exercises, gentlemen officers, generals, respected members of the government, I want to once again congratulate all of us on this large-scale event and note that our country has demonstrated its combat readiness, demonstrated its viability and demonstrated an extremely high level of cooperation and trust between the state and bodies governance and society, and this is a phenomenon in connection with the presence of which we really must congratulate each other. I wish all your shots fired at the conditional enemy could hit the corresponding targets. Thank you.”

Then Prime Minister Pashinyan held a working meeting with the command of the army corps and the leadership of Syunik Marz. During the meeting, issues related to combat training, the real situation and combat missions were discussed.

Accompanied by Suren Papikyan and Sisian Mayor Arthur Sargsyan, the Head of Government walked around the city of Sisian and talked to the city residents. The Premier was briefed on the development programs of the recently enlarged Sisian community. The Mayor noted that they have 40 vacancies in construction with a daily salary of 6,000 drams.

Within the framework of the subvention program to the amount of 1,150 million drams, repairs of stops, roofs of buildings, construction of waterlines are being carried out. With the co-financing of the community, water lines worth 31 million drams are being constructed in the village of Mutsk, with an AMD 200 million-worth one being built in the village of Angekhakot.

Prime Minister Pashinyan laid a wreath at the monument to the victims of the Artsakh Liberation War and visited the St. Hovhannes Church in Sisian.