A very important question was raised. They say, “bring back the conscripts, take the contract soldiers out.” But I'm sorry, if a war starts, those conscripts, everyone shall go to the frontline. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this Thursday during the National Assembly debates on the execution of the 2021 program of the government of Armenia.

"We do not want to take the conscripts, bring the contract soldiers, then take the contract soldiers. We want to bring everyone back because we want to have borders and border guards.

Dear people, today they [i.e., the former Armenian authorities] say, ‘We ensured peace.’ As long as there is a soldier standing on the border, it is not peace. Peace is when there is a border guard standing at the border, and the issues are settled through border signs—and not through positions, fortifications, heights, being cautious of snipers. We have had about 1,000 casualties—some in non-combat conditions—during the period called ‘peace.’ It's not peace," he said.

"Much has been said about this speech, and now the names of the casualties, our martyrs, are also being inappropriately, much speculated. I just want to end the speech, the discussion of this matter with a minute of silence, standing in honor of our martyrs and our homage to them because the agenda we propose is the most important way to honor their memory and to show due respect for their sacrifices," the Armenian PM emphasized.