About three dozen servicemen and war volunteers have been awarded with the high state awards of the Republic of Armenia on the Army Day according to the decrees of President Armen Sarkissian.
Soldiers Mher Hovsepyan, Aram Chagharyan and sergeant Hayk Karamyan have been posthumously awarded with the Combat Service Medal.
President Armen Sarkissian handed over the awards and delivered remarks during the event today at the Presidential Palace.
27 years ago, on this day, the Armenian National Army was formed. Every year, on January 28, Armenians celebrate it with great enthusiasm and pride. In this regard, we talked with the passers-by to find out what the army’s formation changed in the life of the Armenian people and what kind of wishes they would want to send to the Armenian soldiers on the borders.
The students of the “Hay Aspet” (Armenian Knight) Educational Charitable Foundation visited the Yerablur Military Pantheon. For 13-year-old Edmond Asatryan, Monte is one of the best military figures.
“I would like to become a an essential man for Armenia and be able to do the right thing.”
Narek Arshakyan thinks the army is the basis of the country. Though the chosen profession has nothing to do with military life, he emphasizes that he will definitely serve.
“I want to be like Monte and Vazgen, they have given much to our nation,” said Narek.
Besides the boys, the girls are also very happy and proud today. Janna Chakhalyan, who is also a student of the “Hay Aspet,” highlights that Armenia has always had a military spirit.
“I am very happy that we have such guys ready to fight, despite all the difficulties facing our army. I want our army to become stronger.” Garegin Nzhdeh is the best Armenian military figure for 14-year-old Janna.
Artur Vanesyan, the head of the National Security Service (NSS), was in the Yerablur Military Pantheon. Answering journalists’ questions, he mentioned that there are always challenges in terms of security.
“We live in a region where we cannot be quiet in no time. The whole defense system of the Republic of Armenia works in that direction,” said Vanetsyan.
“The army is constantly developing and strengthening, it must be in constant progress. At what moment the advancement of the army has stopped, we will have very bad consequences.”
And what about the premiums?
“We have not given premiums. To tell the truth, I did not know about the premiums, I learned about them from the press and I cannot comment on it,”Artur Vanetsyan emphasized. He also added that he did not receive premiums.
The 7th round of Gibraltar tournament will take place today.
Levon Aronian will use his opportunity of being in group of leaders to have a rest in this round. So, he will miss this round, and will lose half a point.
Our other chess players, Grandmaster Hrant Melkumyan and Elina Danielyan will meet today with Radoslaw Barsky and Yuri Goryachkina respectively.
Yerevan will become home to the first Innovation and Technology Park in the region to be constructed in Armenia. It will become the future workplace for more than 6000 leading professionals which will lead the integration of IT and innovation into all the major industries in the country, including engineering, finance, banking, healthcare, insurance, agriculture, mining, media, and telecommunication.
The Innovation and Technology Park will differ from other parks with its type and scale. Currently, there are many different small and medium IT and engineering parks in the world. The Innovation and Technology Park which is being built in Yerevan will be the first multi-industry park among CIS and Eastern Europe countries in terms of represented industries and geography of companies originating from.
The philosophy of the Innovation and Technology Park is the creation of an “ecosystem of innovation”. This will be possible through the involvement of educational, research and development institutions along with startupers, venture funds, incubation and acceleration programmers.
The Park claims to become the environment, where IT meets major industries and defines innovative products and services of future generation – putting Armenia and Armenian innovative products into a global innovation map.
The initiative of the project comes from the “Galaxy” group of companies together with Armenian IT community. The project planning phases lasted for more than 2 years, and the details of this large-scale project will be released soon.
Rudik Mkrtchyan has been appointed new head coach of the Armenian boxing team. The Armenian Boxing Federation’s Facebook page reports.
According to Artur Gevorgyan, President of the Armenian Boxing Federation, the Federation’s Coaching Board has decided that former head coach of the national team Davit Torosyan should now be engaged only with professional boxers because he is very busy and does not manage to train with other boxers.
Vahan Adilkhanyan has been appointed as the second coach of the Armenian national team, who earlier was assistant coach of the national team. There were no coach changes in other age groups.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The strongest guarantor of our homeland’s independence and security is the Armenian Army, toward which the Armenian nation’s gratitude and obligation has no boundaries.
We are elevated by the victories of our glorious Armenian Army and we bow our heads to the sacrifice of our fallen and wounded soldiers. The life of every single soldier on the frontlines is precious and invaluable. It is with that understanding that we unequivocally support programs that make our borders impenetrable. We support efforts to assist the families of our fallen and wounded soldiers, and those aimed of securing a dignified life for the soldiers that are currently serving.
We wish a safe tour of duty to our soldiers and eternal gratitude to Armenia’s victorious Armed Forces.
ARF Western U.S. Central Committee
Los Angeles, California
Soldiers of Armenia’s Armed Forces
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia congratulates the 27th anniversary of establishment of Armenia’s Armed Forces.
The army, which during its formation, carved a new victorious page in our modern history by liberating Artsakh. During the years, the Army has become a singular government institution, which the Armenian people unequivocally trust and support. The Armenian Army is the guarantor of our independence, our borders and liberated territories.
The large ARF family strongly stands by our army. We are dedicated to the “Nation-Army” principle and express our unwavering support to its realization.
Congratulations Armenian Soldier.
ARF Supreme Council of Armenia
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan speaks at Armed Forces Day celebration in Yerevan on Jan. 28
The commemoration of Armenia’s Armed Forces Day, celebrating the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Army, began with a visit by Armenia’s leadership to Yerablur National Cemetery, to honor the fallen heroes and ended with a gathering dedicated to the occasion where Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared that the Armenian homeland and its victories will not be conceded to anyone.
Earlier on Monday, Pashinyan was joined by Armenia’s President Armen Sarkissian, President of Artsakh Bako Sahakian, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, Speaker of the National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan, Acting Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan and other high ranking state and military officials to visit the Yerablur National Cemetery and pantheon to the heroes of the Artsakh Liberation Movement.
The importance of the Armenian Armed Forces was emphasized through announcement by the relevant ministries and officials.
President Sarkissian hailed the impressive efforts by the people in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora to form and establish the Armenian Armed Forces so soon after declaring independence and the fall of the Soviet Union.
In a statement addressed to the nation, he praised the Armenian soldier, whose dedication has protected and secured Armenia.
He also announced a new initiative by the Office of the President called the “Defender of the Homeland,” through which those soldiers who were wounded and suffered injuries that have handicapped them would receive special assistance.
The program seeks to provide service, but more important, employment to the wounded soldiers who have become handicapped. He pledged to hire more such soldiers in the Office of the President and announced as his first such hire Gor Darmanyan, a wounded soldier who is currently employed by the president.
During a special ceremony, Sarkisian also awarded medals to soldiers and veterans.
Later on Monday, a celebration took place marking the Armed Forces anniversary, attended by Armenia’s leadership.
“On this solemn day of our Army’s anniversary, I believe it’s worth noting once again that the security we have is not just an apple fallen from the sky, but a reality that has been achieved through the efforts of thousands of freedom fighters: those officers who gave up their career in the Soviet Army and came back to protect the homeland; the first soldiers of our newly independent state, who defended their homeland at the cost of their health and life, sacrificing sometimes their well-being and prosperity,” said Pashinyan during the celebration.
“We have gathered today to reaffirm our commitment to our ancestors, our heroes and martyrs, our legendary military commanders and soldiers. We will never give up our homeland; we will never concede this victory to anyone,” added Pashinyan, who praised and honored the Armenian soldiers, past and present, as well as their families for the sacrifices toward the homeland.