‘HOMELAND DOESN’T PRAISE ITS HEROS PROPERLY’: ARMY COMMANDER

Tert.am
15:39 ~U 28.01.10

On the battlefield, the most important thing is not strength, but
bravery. We were obligated to prove that no one, with might, has
assaulted or killed our people, any more, said "Arabo" detachment
commander Manvel Yeghiazaryan, during a press conference today, adding
that "We proved to the Azerbaijani people that we’re a people not
conquered, but victorious. We knew on the battlefield that they wounded
us in 1915, then later, in Baku and Sumgayit," said the commander.

Yeghiazaryan believes that the homeland today doesn’t praise its
heros properly. "It sounds beautiful when one says there there are no
injuries; however, people’s condition must be secured… If in the 90s
in the homeland, there was nothing to eat, we didn’t demand anything,
but today there is. If we have fought, that doesn’t mean that today
that must be ignored, that’s divisive," he said.

"Sasuntsi Davit" detachment founder-commander Hamlet Hovsepyan,
however, is of a different opinion: "Those who fought didn’t go to
the battlefield with an expectation [and] for an idea, and today each
occupies himself with his work."

The commanders note that in the last 10 years, the Armenian army,
considered the most efficient in the region, prospers and develops
daily. "In every country, 10-15% of its people retains the nation’s
spirit. There has to be steps taken toward raising that spirit,"
said Hovsepyan.

Both army officials noted that returning lands cannot be an issue
up for discussion, since the status of Nagorno-Karabakh hasn’t been
decided.