Elite participated in parade
Republic Square was closed down today as the entire political and military elite came to participate in the military parade. Anybody who wanted to enter the square, including accredited journalists on the scene to cover the event, had to make huge efforts to get through. After presenting ourselves, we found ourselves in front of the Paronyan Theater and found out that we had to travel around the Zakiyan, Amiryan and the back of Erebuni Hotel just to make it close to the square. Serzh Sargsyan's presence at the square was making it hard for the journalists and average citizens were simply deprived of the right to walk on public streets.
The ceremony of handing certificates to graduates of military educational institutions started at 10 a.m. at Republic Square following the military parade which, for some reason, the master of ceremonies called a "ceremonial meeting".
The graduates and future young army officials showed their skills and fighting capabilities through dances accompanied by different kinds of music. The graduates were not only from the Military Institute after Vazgen Sargsyan, military-medical faculty of the Yerevan State Medical University after Heratsi and the Aviation Institute of Armenia, but also from military institutions abroad. Participating in the event were the military attaches of the Russian Federation, the USA, Greece, Switzerland, Iran, Georgia and Bulgaria. The celebration was dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the military institute named after Vazgen Sargsyan.
During the ceremonial meeting Serzh Sargsyan made his remarks and mentioned that the "army is stronger with its personnel, which is the backbone of the army."
"The Armenian army will continue its holy mission and will remain the reliable defender of the security of the people and the nation, as well as the pivotal and irreplaceable component for peace and security in the region. Today we are stronger than ever because we have a strong, modern army capable of solving any issue. The army has stood the test of war and peace and has embodied the spirit of victory of the Armenian people."
Among other speakers were RA Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, Head of the Military Institute Martun Karapetyan, graduate Artur Papikyan and a grandfather of one of the graduates, participant of the Artsakh liberation war Misha Shadyan.
