President participated at the 2016 commencement event of the graduates of the RA Ministry of Defense educational establishments

The President of Armenia, Commander-in-Chief Serzh Sargsyan today at the Ministry of Defense participated at the commencement event of the graduates of the RA Ministry of Defense educational establishments. The President of Armenia greeted the participants of the event, congratulated the graduates, who have concluded their studies at the military educational establishments and wished them success and safe military service.

Serzh Sargsyan personally handed to the cadets who graduated with excellence officer certificates and awarded them with personal daggers. On the occasion of the event, the President of Armenia made a statement. The event concluded with the ceremonial march of the graduates and a demonstration performance by the Honor Guard.

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President Serzh Sargsyan’s Address at the commencement event of the graduates of the RA Ministry of Defense educational establishments

Dear Compatriots,
General and Officers,

I cordially congratulate the graduates of the Vazgen Sarkissian Military University, Command and Staff Department, as well as the graduates of the Armenak Khanferian Military Aviation University and graduates of the foreign military institutions on a successful conclusion of this stage of your studies.

You have chosen a military career in a country which for the last 25 years every day has been facing the menace of war; this is our reality. Your professional choice by itself testifies to your high morals and general outlook. From this day on, our people have also entrusted you personally with their security and the right to live in peace. It is our common responsibility but first of all it is Army’s responsibility because it stands at the front line.

My first appeal to the young officers: the combat spirit of the Armenian soldier is high but you should multiply it. Military skills and capabilities give new confidence to each soldier. To give them that extra confidence is your duty. Remember that behind you there are not only your families but also the depository of manuscripts – matenadaran. Matenadaran means civilization whose co-creators, bearers and representatives we are. This civilization embraces values and this civilization is opposed with violence and bloodshed, brute force and inhumanity, intolerance and extremism. The code of honor of the Armenian soldiers and officers has been formed long ago and is present in the same matenadaran. You should prove on each day of your service that the matenadaran is yours, is ours, that it is our system of values. Prove that other values and conduct are not ours, that they are alien to us and unacceptable.

By defending the country and the matanadaran you defend the civilization values without which there is no Armenian identity, no Armenia.
I once again congratulate you on this exceptional event and wish you safe military service and on behalf of our entire nation I assure you that we believe in you. We believe that the Armenian identity and Armenia are eternal because we will never betray ourselves.

Safe service!