Armenian army anniversary celebrated in Athens

PanARMENIAN.Net - A formal reception dedicated to the 33rd anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces was held in Athens, the Embassy of Armenia in Greece reported.

On February 4, the solemn event took place at the Officers’ Club of Greece’s land forces, attended by Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Dendias, senior officials from the Greek Ministry of Defense and General Staff, high-ranking representatives of state institutions, members of parliament, over twenty ambassadors and diplomats accredited in Greece, military attachés, representatives of the Armenian clergy in Greece, as well as public figures and members of the Armenian community.

Armenia’s Ambassador to Greece, Tigran Mkrtchyan, and Armenian Defense Attaché, Lieutenant Colonel Armen Mirzabekyan, delivered speeches at the event.

Ambassador Mkrtchyan emphasized that the Armenian army is one of the fundamental pillars of Armenia’s sovereignty and independence, stating, "The stronger and more self-sufficient our army is, the stronger and more self-sufficient our state will be." He highlighted Armenia’s military reform and modernization programs aimed at enhancing national defense.

The ambassador also underscored the strong ties between the defense ministries and general staffs of Armenia and Greece, which have expanded over the years through high-level meetings, joint exercises, and training programs. In this context, he highlighted the trilateral cooperation between Armenia, Greece, and Cyprus.

Special attention was given to the fact that Armenian military personnel have been receiving military education in Greek academies for years. The ambassador expressed gratitude to the Greek General Staff and Foreign Ministry for responding to Armenia’s request by providing three bridges for flood-damaged areas in Armenia’s northern and northeastern regions.

In his speech, the ambassador also paid tribute to Major Mkrtich Hakobyan, a graduate of Greece’s Evelpidon Military Academy who was killed during Azerbaijan’s aggression in 2020, as well as Armen Saghoyan, who was killed in 1994, emphasizing the importance of their families’ presence at the event.

Armenian Defense Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Armen Mirzabekyan stressed the significance of military education and the formation of new partnerships aligned with Armenia’s National Security Council’s guidelines.

He also acknowledged the contributions of international partners, particularly Greece, in Armenia’s defense reform efforts, describing the cooperation as a "borderless partnership where the word 'no' is nearly absent."

Armenian Army Day is celebrated on January 28.