RA Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan sent a wish during the New Year and Christmas holidays.

"Dear service members, relatives, and compatriots of brave people who died while defending the borders of the Motherland, we handed over another year to history. The year 2022 was marked by several achievements in the construction of the army, the heroic service of soldiers and officers, unceasing efforts to preserve the fragile peace, and the people's efforts to keep our country standing and invincible.

2022 was a year of many trials and difficulties for the Armed Forces. In September, the units of the armed forces resolutely faced Azerbaijani military aggression. And now, we welcome the New Year with conflicting feelings of pain, loss, and pride.

The simple realization that the army is the first guarantor of the security of our country and the peaceful existence of our people forces us to make the process of army building more efficient, to implement targeted reforms, to make military service more attractive and profitable, to create a flexible and combat-capable army suitable for the 21st century. In this context, I want to talk about two programs that will increase the flow of human resources to the armed forces and bring significant qualitative changes.

The first is the program to provide housing for graduates of military educational institutions. Every service member who has tied their fate with the army and graduated from a military university will receive a three-room apartment in the capital. This innovation will not only significantly improve the social condition of future service members but will also make their unique mission to protect the motherland more critical in the eyes of society, especially the rising generation.
The "Pashtpan Hayrenyats" program will enable conscripts to volunteer for the army and smoothly transition from conscript service to contractual paid service.

We will also promote the introduction of the professional sergeant institute in the army, which has long been established in the armed forces of developed countries. Thus we will lay the new foundations of a professional army with the strategy of forming combat-ready armed forces. Within the framework of 2022, I would also like to highlight the frontline furnishing and the works carried out in the direction of armament replenishment.

Dear compatriots, I cannot say that we are entering the year 2023, having solved all the problems and overcoming all the difficulties. Still, the unceasing dedication and hard work, joining all our forces, and loyalty to the idea of a strong and protected motherland will enable us to walk firmly and firmly in the New Year. And solve the vital problems we face, face the most severe challenges.

I wish everyone a year of national solidarity and united work. May 2023 be a lossless year for all of us. May our soldier sons keep the borders of the Motherland intact, and may they return home from the army safe and sound. I wish sunshine and happiness to all your families. And I assure you that we are the master of our destiny; we will fight for our future. Long live Armenia; glory to the Armenian Army.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."