On December 19, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated during a government session that the perception of the Armenian army should be changed in several aspects, including its functional purpose.

He emphasized that the army should align with Armenia's political and strategic framework, considering the regional situation and the peace agenda. Pashinyan reiterated that Armenia's primary objective is to preserve its internationally recognized territorial integrity.

Pashinyan also addressed the need to modernize approaches to army service, noting that current illnesses-related restrictions should be reconsidered. He argued that army service should not be limited solely to roles involving large-caliber weapons, as the military is a complex organism with various service roles, including office work. He called for minimizing restrictions on compulsory military service and allowing individuals with certain health conditions to serve in non-combat roles. He noted that some people wishing to join contract service are currently unable to do so due to these restrictions.

Pashinyan discussed ongoing negotiations with Azerbaijan regarding a peace treaty. He revealed that Armenia had sent proposals on two unresolved treaty articles over a month ago but had not received a response from Azerbaijan. One of Armenia's proposals is to prevent the deployment of third-country forces on the demarcated sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, arguing that the risk of escalation on such sections would be significantly reduced after full border demarcation. Pashinyan stated that the presence of third forces on the border would no longer be necessary after demarcation.

Regarding the potential disbandment of the OSCE Minsk Group, Pashinyan called Armenia's approach constructive. He acknowledged the logic that if the conflict no longer exists, the format for conflict resolution would have no purpose. However, he emphasized the importance of ensuring that Azerbaijan's rhetoric about "Western Azerbaijan" does not serve as a pretext for territorial claims against Armenia. He argued that if Azerbaijan's concept of "Western Azerbaijan" refers to districts within Azerbaijan—such as Kazakh, Tovuz, Agstafa, Gedabey, Dashkesan, Kelbajar, Lachin, Kubatli, and Zangelan—then the return of people to these areas is an internal Azerbaijani matter. Pashinyan added that the Armenian government would only address issues related to establishing normal relations with Azerbaijan, ensuring the security of Armenia’s eastern border and Azerbaijan’s western border.