Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Ministry of Defense and presented to the supreme officer staff of the Armed Forces the newly appointed Chief of the General Staff Artak Davtyan.

He stressed that Davtyan was removed from the same post previously not for the reasons relating to his service and added that during this period they were in continuous contact and that it was clear that his potential must be used in state affairs.

Pashinyan said that during the war he invited Davtyan, who that time was president of Military-Industrial Committee to organize Syunik’s self-defense or participate in it.

“I am convinced that he will continue his mission on the same high level as he started it. Indeed, the mission is not an easy one, we are living hard times and the issues are more than serious. Number one issue – defend the army, defend the Armed Forces and issue two – ensure necessary reforms in the Armed Forces which first of all will strengthen the Armed Forces, level of defense of Armenia’s foreign security and of course, the trust of all of us in the Armed Forces and our security system,” the PM said.

The PM also stressed that the developments that took place from February have not left any personal or political trace but asked to sacredly preserve the depoliticization of the Armed Forces.

Expressing gratitude for the trust, Artak Davtyan also thanked former Chief of the General Staff Onik Gasparyan and General Galstyan for their work.

“We are hopeful that with joint efforts we will solve all the issues the Armed Forces are currently facing,” Davtyan said.

The PM too thanked Onik Gasparyan for his service and General Galstyan for the implementation of duties of the Chief of General Staff.

“Thank you all, as we really have passed through a very hard time and I think that during all this period we managed to do the utmost and did the necessary to go out of it stronger, united and with optimism toward the future,” the PM said.