Armenian PM Marks Republic Day with Peace, Military Reforms
Armenian PM highlights peace with Azerbaijan, military reforms at Republic Day parade
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared Armenia is entering a "new historical era" during the May 28 Republic Day military parade in Yerevan, emphasizing peace with Azerbaijan after three decades of conflict. Pashinyan outlined strategic priorities including institutionalizing peace, strengthening legal foundations, and transforming Armenia into a "Crossroads of Peace" through the TRIPP project.
The government unveiled a restructured military featuring new equipment, uniforms, and doctrine. The armed forces will now focus exclusively on defending Armenia's internationally recognized territory, with exceptions only for international peacekeeping missions. Pashinyan attributed improved access to international arms markets to Armenia's 2022 agreement recognizing mutual territorial integrity.
The parade showcased military equipment from seven countries and domestically produced weaponry. Since 2022, Armenia's defense industry has received approximately 170 billion drams in government investment. The government also announced enhanced military salaries, housing support for servicemen, and residential certificates for military academy graduates.