"THE WHOLE NATION CONTRIBUTED TO THE FORMATION OF THE ARMY"

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28 January, 2008

On January 28, 1992, Armenia’s President Levon Ter-Petrossian signed
a decree on the formation of the Armenian Army. The armed forces of
the Defense Ministry had fought full-scale wars for the sake of the
country by then.

The first recruitment was organised in 1991 by Defense Minister Valery
Poghossian and first Deputy DM Vagharshak Harutiunian.

The newly-formed army was head by first Defense Minister Vazgen
Sargsian. Later on Vazgen Manukian, Serzh Sarkissian, Vagharshak
Harutiunian and Michael Harutiunian assumed the post.

Specialists say the Armenian army enjoys the highest efficiency in the
region. The first large-scale military parade of September 21, 1999,
at the head of Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian and Defense Minister
Lieutenant-General Vagharshak Harutiunian testifies to this assessment.

Today we tried to find out Vagharshak Harutiunian’s opinion about the
Armenian army. "Independence enabled the Armenian people to determine
the country’s future and to win a victory. This is a major achievement.

Once we have solved that complicated issue we shall be able to tackle
other problems as well."

Vagharshak Harutiunian considers the army the greatest achievement
of independent Armenia. "Surely, it is the highest value of the
country. The army was formed thanks the whole nation, the country’s
prudent military policy and right assessment of the situation.

The combination of all these factors contributed to the formation of
the army."