On February 21st the Armenian peacekeepers’ recurrent shift returned to Armenia from Afghanistan. According to Peacekeepers Brigade Commander Major General Arthur Simonyan, all the 40 participants of the mission were awarded with NATO medals. The German Command, as in the previous years, is very satisfied with the Armenian servicemen’s service.

On February 15th in the park “Victory” (Haghtanak) of Yerevan the 23rd anniversary of the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan was celebrated. The function’s participants marched through the Honour Path and lay a wreath on the memorial to the perished in the war. Head of RA AF GS Colonel General Youriy Khachatourov, RA Afghan War Veterans Union’s members participated in the procession.

24 years ago on February 12th the Artsakh movement against the Azeri invaders started. In the city of Hadrut of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic the first demonstration was held where the participants were demanding reunion of Artsakh with Armenia. The demonstration’s organizers were NKR Supreme Council Chairman Arthur Mkrtchyan, Igor Mouradyan, Grigoriy Hayrapetyan, Emil Abrahamyan and others.

On February 17th The Veterans’ Union of Armenia celebrated the 125th anniversary of Armenian military commander, military man and military theorist, 1918-1920 Civil War hero Hayk Bezheshkyants – legendary Guay. Veterans of the Great Patriotic War, schoolchildren and teachers of the school after Guay participated in the function. In the solemn session head of Veterans Union’s Council Colonel Simon Yesayan gave a speech. He told about Guay’s battle path. The division headed by Guay was named “Iron” because of the iron discipline and invincibility. Guay’s division had a great contribution in routing Kolchak’s army.

On February 8th in Tbilisi a solemn reception was organized on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Armenian Army. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia G.Manoukyan, statesmen, politicians and public figures of Georgia, diplomats participated in the function. Military attaché of Armenia in Georgia gave a speech.

On February 7th RA National Security Council Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan took part in a seminar on “South Caucasus: New Challenges” which was organized by the Armenian Association of G.Marshall Centre, European Security Studies Centre Graduates and the USA Embassy in Armenia.

On February 8th in the framework of festivities on the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran in this country the annual International 29th Competition “Book of the Year” was organized in Iran. More than 20 thousand books participated in the Competition. Representatives of 10 countries were recognized as winners: Germany, France, China, Georgia, Holland, Russia, Lithuania, Pakistan, Switzerland and Armenia (2 prizes). By the way Armenia participated in the competition for the first time.