KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

The Pedagogical University’s delegation, that was on a visit to Artsakh, went to the military unit in the town Mekhakavan. The delegation was solemnly welcomed under the accompaniment of the military ensemble; the servicemen were at the drill ground, and the commanders were at the tribune.

Starting from 1996, the Pedagogical University has been in close cooperation with the RA MD and the NKR DA. And this cooperation is gradually becoming more dimensional and contextual.

The students of the Pedagogical University expressed their acknowledgements to the soldiers with patriotic songs and dances, once again showing that the society is always next to soldiers.

Monté, the hero… This is how the comrades-in-arms called Arman Kirakosyan who was one of the participants of the four-day war. In an unequal fight with the enemies only he survived and came from the war with victory out of 14 people.

“This victory is not absolute for me; I lost my 13 friends there. The only thing I could think of at that moment was the desire to win; but, alas, only I survived in the trenches”, Arman was telling with a solid heart; he had received three firearm wounds and one of the bullets touched straight his heart; only the booklet in his breast pocket saved him from death.

“Armenian soldiers are ready for everything; they do not fear anything. Our friends’ blood has been shed there and we must sacredly preserve our borders”, said Arman and assured that even after finishing his military service, in case of a necessity, he would still fight.

The ordinary serviceman Edgar Avetisyan is a student of the Pedagogical University’s Chair of Choreography; it is more than a year that he has been in the mandatory military service. When speaking about the service, Edgar outlines that it passes in a very interesting and eventful way; difficulties happen, but everything can be overcome.

“I am sure that the years of service will show their results throughout the rest of our lives; meanwhile, such events are a great pleasure for soldiers. They help to relief the longing for a civil life”, Edgar said.

He proudly states that no one should fear anything and worry as it is safe in the rear since Armenian soldiers are on the border. We love all of you very much and are ready to fight for you till the end. We will fight till the last drop of blood as we all have power and will in us. Armenian soldiers are not afraid of anything”, Edgar Avetisyan mentioned in his interview to the old.aspu.am.

“During the recent tense happenings you also participated in the defence of Armenian borders. Today, we are able to calmly sleep because you are here on the borders you are protecting the existence and statehood of our nation”, this is how the Director of the ASPU Academic Library Tigran Petrosyants greeted the soldiers urging them to preserve the homeland and patriotism, but to always remember about our territories that were still in a foreign country.

The ASPU Vice-Rector Armen Tamazyan, in his turn, wished good service to all soldiers. In his opinion, the mission of the delegation’s visit was to communicate with soldiers, to raise their military spirit and to give them cheerful mood.

Furthermore, the ASPU Associate Professor Hakob Tadevosyan noticed that the army-society relations should be permanently strengthened and cooperation areas should be better developed.

“The importance of visits among the University departments and the Defence Army can be based on military and patriotic education. As a result of the environment of mutual support students realize that soldiers protect our homeland on the borders, however, their role in this process is also quite significant. By becoming a good specialist for the country, they are also forming a part of that process. Soldiers, as representatives of social groups carrying out direct protection of the country, realize the importance of their work with the help of such initiatives and the fact that they are in the centre of public attention. Their service, the difficulties they overcome are highly praised and become absolute values in preserving protection of our country”, Hakob Tadevosyan said. He added that this was the best opportunity for future soldiers to get familiarised with the military daily life, the service, peculiarities of education, syllabus, and daily living conditions, for them to get psychologically ready for their own military service in future.

Afterwards, the Deputy Commander for Staff Activities of the military unit Felix Yengibaryan observes that following the recent happenings such events have become of a more frequent nature at the military unit, and the army-society relations have become stronger.

“Due to such initiatives, soldiers have some relaxed time, have some rest of the military life, get inspired with patriotic songs and dances, fill the longing for their friends and relatives and all this contributes to easing up the heavy service”, said Felix Yengibaryan.

In addition, expressing gratitude to all organisers and participants, he looked forward to enjoying such visits more frequently.

In his turn, the President of the University’s Student Council Nersik Margaryan notices that the doors of the army are always wide open for the students, such visits are of regular nature through which the students society tries to raise the students patriotism and military spirit.

Likewise, the members of the delegation had the opportunity to dine with the soldiers at the military canteen. The chief cook of the military unit Nunei Araqelyan has been in military service for already 16 years 9 of which she has been the cook of the military unit.

“Food is also very important for soldiers; I am trying to cook as well as their mothers do. Every day we are jointly praying for all our soldiers, for them to serve safe and to return home to their families. I am happy for the chance to cook for such heroic men myself. I love the whole army very much”, Nunei Araqelyan said.

What is more, the students made a tour at the military unit, got acquainted with the soldiers’ daily life, learned about the problems they were having, talked to them, saw and felt all that the soldiers live throughout two years.

Last but not least, the representatives of the University did not come without presents; they brought cigarettes, sweets, and other products necessary for the soldiers, as well as presented the library of the military unit with around 400 books of Armenian classical writers.

“Dress Right, Dress! Ready Front!” with the solemn parade march the day filled with military moments came up to end. The students bid farewell to the serviceman that already became friends for them and went back, staying assure that they left the strongest defenders of the homeland on the frontline whose military spirit is invincible.