YEREVAN — January the 28th marks the anniversary of the Armenian army.
The national armed forces celebrate today their 20th birthday.
On January 28, 1992, the Armenian government passed a historic decision on the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Armenia.
This became a landmark event laying the foundations of the Armenian army.
The newly established ministry gained control of the interior ministry’s patrol police detachments, as well as anti-terrorism and civil defense forces.After a short while, the Defense Ministry formed its central administration with general headquarters, departments and divisions. In 1992, the ministry began the army enlistment procedures throughout the republic, establishing a firm tradition of replenishing the army with conscripts.
The establishment of the Armenian army is inseparably related to the history of building the Armenian statehood, as both were interrelated and interdependent processes, dating back their origins to February 1988, a period which marked the beginning of Karabakh liberation struggle.
While coming into existence, the Armenian army had to pass a long way, full of difficulties and obstacles.
The defense ministry singles out three main stages in the context of the fundamental processes and basic tasks it had to deal with throughout this period.
First Stage : February 1988 – May 1992 – This period marked an active stage in Karabakh movement, exacerbating the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. It was a time when ensuring civilians’ security in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh became an urgent issue.
Second stage: June 1992 – June 1994 – Waging a de facto war with Azerbaijan, the independent republics of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh committed themselves to the task of creating an army.
Third stage: June 1994 – present – This stage can be characterized as period of sustainable development when army building gained a new momentum raising the efficiency of its forces and achieving the step-by-step elimination of barriers between the army and the society. The ceasefire accord signed with Azerbaijan enabled the Armenian authorities and the army to direct all their efforts to the final formation of the country’s armed forces.
