President Armen Sarkissian received delegation of the Homeland Defenders Voluntary Union (HDVU): “In a sense, we all are homeland defenders, militiamen”

President Armen Sarkissian received today the delegation of the Board of the HDVU headed by the Chairman of the Board Sassoun Mikaelian.

The President congratulated them on the occasion of the holiday – Homeland Defender’s day and noted in particular that the homeland defenders made a great contribution to the liberation of Artsakh and restoration of its sovereignty, maturing of our statehood and upholding of our security. “On every turn of our history, in difficult times the people’s militia notion always was with us,” President Sarkissian said. He noted that at the initial stage of the Artsakh war, in the absence of the regular army, the duty to defend the country was on the shoulders of the volunteers, homeland defenders.

“You are homeland defenders, the symbol of the nation and Fatherland protection,” President Armen Sarkissian said. “You have one mission – to protect our Fatherland – Armenia and Artsakh, our entire nation. You also have the mission to pass it on to the next generation.”

The Chairman of the HDVU Board, member of the National Assembly Sassoun Mikaelian thanked the President for the meeting and noted that the homeland defenders stay ready to protect Fatherland. He introduced the Board members, spoke about activities and problems of the Union. In this context, the Chairman of the HDVU Board stressed the importance of the patriotic and military education of the generations and improvement of the homeland defenders’ social conditions.

The President of Armenia congratulated them once again on the occasion of the triple holiday – Liberation of Shushi, victory over fascism, creation of the Artsakh Defense Army and Homeland Defender’s Day and wished them good health and happiness. “You have plenty – willpower, heroism, power, memories, but I want you to be strong and healthy because you have a lot to do. Your load is heavy; your lost friends, our heroes are always watching you from above. In a sense, we all are homeland defenders, militiamen. As President, I am always ready to serve my country, our nation, and support the important task which homeland defenders are carrying out.”