Rafik Beglaryan, a young man from Armenia’s bordering village Voskepar, together with his cousin Armen Beglaryan are getting ready to begin their military service in the Armenian Armed Forces, with the lottery determining Artsakh as the place of their service.
“It will be great if we serve in the same military unit. We would cope with the [military] service easier together,” Rafik Beglaryan said in an interview with Panorama.am.
18-year old Rafik Beglaryan is a karate competitor, who currently studies at Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture. The future soldier has positive attitude towards the military service, trying not to focus on negative aspects.
Rafik is not concerned with the fact that he might serve in the frontline.
“We are well aware what it means to defend a border. We are not afraid of shootings,” he says, adding that it would certainly be better if the boys from the bordering villages of Tavush Province served in the same province.
Rafik’s cousin Armen Beglaryan is studying at National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia. Armen hopes to hold his service with his cousin as well, adding that they will always be mentally connected even when serving in different military units.
Armen also does not find it difficult to service in the frontline.
“We are village boys and will easily engage in the service. In addition to that, we have lived amid constant shootings throughout our entire lives, we are used to it. On the contrary, it is a little bit unusual when they [Azerbaijani forces] do not fire shots,” Armen jokes, adding that all the houses in Voskepar villages face the border with Azerbaijan.
The brothers wish the conscripts a safe and peaceful service.