YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–President Robert Kocharian congratulated the nation and the military on Armenia’s Army Day–a holiday that was recently added to the Republic’s list of official observances.
The president told the nation that the January 28 commemoration is invaluable–having been "achieved through the heroic acts and collective will of the Armenian people on the borders of Artsakh and Armenia."
The establishment of the Armenian Armed Forces began in the early 1990s–practically before the collapse of the Soviet Union. One of the first steps was the formation of a special regiment of the Armenian Interior Ministry in 1990 that had up to 400 men. In early 1991–when the regiment was reorganized into four battalions–it already had over 1,000 troops. At the same time–volunteers fighting on the border with Azerbaijan were organized into six to eight battalions
President Kocharian congratulated soldiers for their difficult and noble service to their country. "Your professionalism and high spirit are the pillars of our freedom and independence," he told the servicemen.