On the occasion of the 16th Anniversary of the Armenian National Army President Robert Kocharyan awarded with medals and orders a number of employees of the Ministry of Defense and soldiers of the war were of the Republic of Armenia. By congratulating everyone Kocharyan said that the establishment of the Armenian army is one of the greatest and, maybe, the most important achievements of our people. He mentioned that on the way to that achievement of the strata of our society have been involved and had their investment. “We highly appreciate peace, and we strive for peace. Nevertheless, we are ready to make a blitz response to any threat’, Robert Kocharyan said. “Today, many speak of the army, even those who did not serve in the army and have no idea about it and the security,” RA President said. To recall, the election platforms of a number of the Armenian presidential contenders contain promises to reduce the Army or transfer it to the contractual basis. Kocharyan advised those politicians to restrain their “political populism” and find more “harmless” topics to test their language abilities. “Security of the country and the people is an absolute value, not subject to a tender. We shall not allow anyone to weaken this structure. The Army is a guarantee of our statehood’, Robert Kocharyan emphasized. He also said that Army is the most accomplished structure, which assures security of pour people, and ‘we intend to assure the same attitude to it in future.” “Armenia’s security will be in danger without an involuntary service. It would be absurd to refuse of an involuntary service by the state being under a direct military threat. We realize that without a battle-worthy army Armenia will become a state of different statuses in the region,” he said.
