Monte Melkonian would be 59 today

 

 

 

He joined the Artsakh War in 1991. He was one of the most talented and experienced commanders. He was posthumously bestowed the title of the Artsakh Hero. Monte Melkonian died on June 12, 1993. Today is Monteā€™s birthday.

ā€œMonte was a brilliant commander, an exceptional soldier, but he remained in the history and the hearts of people first of all thanks to his honesty and fairness,ā€ says Alek Yenigomshyan, Director of ā€œMonte Melkonianā€ NGO and ex-member of ASALA.

ā€œThe decisions to fight and die for the Motherland are never made in one day, they are born with a man. Monte was a hero, a man of exceptional courage, a skilled serviceman. But the human qualities were his greatest privilege. He was honest, fair and extremely modest.ā€ Ā Alek Yenigomshyan is confident Monte would not like to be remembered on several occasions over the year, to be glorified and praised. ā€œHe didnā€™t need it, but we need it,ā€ he said.

According to Yenigomshyan, Monte was absolutely indifferent to material values. Honesty and moral were the most precious values to him. Without these qualities he would not inspire hope and confidence and would not be adored by all.

Bloodshed was not Monteā€™s aim on the battlefield. He even gave his blood to save the life of a wounded Azerbaijani captive. Monte came to Armenia, when many were leaving. Monte did not know what despair was.