ON THE HIGHT

– I like to climb to the position with my soldiers. There is nothing better than a midnight conversation of commander and soldier on the Hight, from where starts the boundary of the country – ahead is the enemy, in the back – the breath of the country. On the Height you are stronger, you’re stronger than death…

Interview with Major-General Andranik Makaryan. Recently, he received the Order “Vardan Mamikonian” but the people gave him their award – Honorary General.

– Our strength is multiplied by fear of losing our most beloved. A Homeland begins with the greatest love.

– For me, homeland begins with my mother.

– And for me – from the Height.

– Tell us about that.

– Height is in the village of Chinari. From there, my parents’ house is seen, where lives my childhood, my father’s voice. I always liked to sit on the Height, and dream, to look at the village, and even now, when I will enter into the fifth decade.

At the Height the God is with you and hears all your requests. At the Height I read “David of Sassoun”, fought with the army of Vardan Mamikonian, fought near Gevorg Marzpetuni.

I sat on the Height, clinging to the warm side of Khachatur grandfather and he was telling me – we liberated Erzurum, Trabzon, and when we entered into Yerznka… When I studied at the Moscow Military College, the most I missed the Height… From the Height we were shooting at the enemy, and it was protecting our village… Once Azerbaijanis suddenly attacked with a large force and took the Height, a few hours it was held captive, then my soldiers took the Height back. They danced with machine guns there, on the top. It was the happiest moment of my life.

But on the Hight it was also the cruelest moment of my life. On March 27, 1993 I was with my 24 soldiers at the border. And suddenly, the Azerbaijanis began shelling, mines exploded one after the other. When the attack was over, I got up to my feet, my 24 soldiers lay motionless on the ground. Are all lost? It seemed I go mad. But gradually they began to move, they were all alive. As if I was born again…

At the Height the things are different. At the Height you talk with Eternity, and everyday worries seem so small! I like to climb to the positions with my soldiers. There is nothing better than a midnight conversation of commander and soldier on the Height, from where the boundary of the Homeland starts – ahead is the enemy, in the back – the breath of the country. At the Height you are stronger, you’re stronger than death…

Interviewed by GAYANEH POGHOSYAN