On the occasion of the New Year and Holly Christmas holidays, President Serzh Sargsyan visited defense positions

Today, the President of the Republic of Armenia, Commander-in-Chief Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of the New Year and Holly Christmas holidays visited defense positions of our country.

The President was accompanied by His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and the Minister of Defense Seiran Ohanian. At the footholds, the President of Armenia observed the change of the guard and conversed with the troops on the issues of their interest.

Serzh Sargsyan congratulated the soldiers of the Armenian Army on the occasion of the upcoming holidays, wished them all the best and thanked for the dedicated service. “To be an Armenian soldier is a mission. Not necessarily in the trenches or with the arms. The important thing is to feel as a soldier of the Motherland. I believe there is no higher calling than that and there is no greater happiness. Though I am not an old man, I have seen a lot: I saw hardships our people went through, I lost many friends, I saw how settlements were devastated. I have seen it all. I saw dedication of my friends, I saw betrayal – everything. Nevertheless, there is no greater mission that service to the Motherland. I want you, dear soldiers, to live your entire lives with this understanding. Our nation has been living on this land for a very long time; we have gone down a long road. On the road there have been successes and failures, however we, thank God, are still living, and I have no doubt that will live forever. We live because in many cases our authorities, clergy and peasants lived like soldiers. There used to be peoples in our neighborhood that were not only more numerous but also much more powerful than we. One can mention at least two dozens of such peoples, however they remained behind the crisscrosses of history because they were not soldiers of their nations, they were not soldiers of their homelands. We will exist eternally because many, many of us are our Motherland’s soldiers,” President Serzh Sargsyan said.

A group of soldiers who demonstrated dedication and courage in the course of their service received gifts from the President.

President Serzh Sargsyan met also with the residents of Areni village, congratulated them on the approaching holidays, and conversed with the residents about their concerns and other issues.