"WE ARE READY TO COUNTER-STRIKE"

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28 January, 2008

Today is the 16th anniversary of the Armenian Army.

On this occasion RA President Robert Kocharian today visited the
Yerablur Pantheon to pay homage to the memory of the soldiers of
the liberation war in Artsakh. President Kocharian was escorted
by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Speaker of the National
Assembly of Armenia Tigran Torossian, Prime Minister Serzh Sarkissian,
Deputy Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamian, members of Government,
NA Deputies and senior Officers. The President laid flowers at the
memorials to Vazgen Sargsian, Andranik Ozanian and soldiers that fell
in the Artsakh war.

Robert Kocharian refused to answer reporters’ questions.

"Every time I visit Yerablur I feel regret, pain and excitement,"
PM Serzh Sarkissian told journalists.

RA Defense Minister Michael Harutiunian congratulated everyone on Army
Day. "The Army is strong, effective and ready to defend the Armenian
people, our state and the security of borders," he said.

"Armenia is against the Karabakh conflict settlement through a
war. But if Azerbaijan wages a war, we are ready to counterstrike. I
want our neighbours to realise that we must live in peace," Michael
Harutiunian said.