ELITE PARTICIPATED IN PARADE

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06:00 pm | July 30, 2009

Society

Republic Square was closed down today as the entire political and
military elite came to participate in the military parade. Anybody
who wanted to enter the square, including accredited journalists
on the scene to cover the event, had to make huge efforts to get
through. After presenting ourselves, we found ourselves in front of
the Paronyan Theater and found out that we had to travel around the
Zakiyan, Amiryan and the back of Erebuni Hotel just to make it close
to the square. Serzh Sargsyan’s presence at the square was making it
hard for the journalists and average citizens were simply deprived
of the right to walk on public streets.

The ceremony of handing certificates to graduates of military
educational institutions started at 10 a.m. at Republic Square
following the military parade which, for some reason, the master of
ceremonies called a "ceremonial meeting".

The graduates and future young army officials showed their skills and
fighting capabilities through dances accompanied by different kinds
of music. The graduates were not only from the Military Institute
after Vazgen Sargsyan, military-medical faculty of the Yerevan State
Medical University after Heratsi and the Aviation Institute of Armenia,
but also from military institutions abroad. Participating in the
event were the military attaches of the Russian Federation, the USA,
Greece, Switzerland, Iran, Georgia and Bulgaria. The celebration was
dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the military institute named
after Vazgen Sargsyan.

During the ceremonial meeting Serzh Sargsyan made his remarks and
mentioned that the "army is stronger with its personnel, which is
the backbone of the army."

"The Armenian army will continue its holy mission and will remain
the reliable defender of the security of the people and the nation,
as well as the pivotal and irreplaceable component for peace and
security in the region. Today we are stronger than ever because we
have a strong, modern army capable of solving any issue. The army
has stood the test of war and peace and has embodied the spirit of
victory of the Armenian people."

Among other speakers were RA Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan,
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, Head of the Military Institute
Martun Karapetyan, graduate Artur Papikyan and a grandfather of one of
the graduates, participant of the Artsakh liberation war Misha Shadyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress