The initiators of the idea of the constitution are the English while we – the Armenians have talked about democratic values almost simultaneously with the French. In the second half of the 18th century the Armenian colonies were recruited mainly with merchants, workmen and ship owners from Iran, particularly New Jugha, whose broad trade circles gave an opportunity to have a great influence, position, authority and to create strong bonds with the English politicians and civilization. At the beginning of the 1770s “Madras Club” was formed where the Armenian intellectual cream of society was involved.

Let me greet all the participants and guests of the international conference “Regional Security Dynamics in the South Caucasus”. The importance of the Conference is verified both regarding the security interests of regional states and the authority and influence of the present specialists and experts.
The geopolitical developments occurring in the South Caucasus are complex and often difficult to foresee as the region carries on itself the influence of regional and extra-regional power centers’ interest pooling and competition. This fact creates both additional opportunities and some challenges for the regional states.

I met Rudolf Khachatryan – one of the best painters of our times during his last visit to Armenia. When I asked an official of the Ministry of Culture to arrange our meeting, he said that the painter was going to have limited contacts and that he would have an interview only with the correspondent of “Izvestia”. However, I hurried to Armenia-Marriott hotel where Khachatryan was staying. Learning that I was a journalist and I wanted to see the painter, the door-keeper accompanied me to his room without making any inquiries. The willingness of the door-keeper seemed strange to me.

If only “welcome” wasn’t observed as coming to Armenia is an event. I come to Armenia every year, often without any mission. I come to meet myself, to become an entity. The bond between a person and birthplace is mysteriously deep and versatile. I come to breathe the air of my homeland, to pass through the streets I have passed in the years of my childhood and youth, to see the places of which I have dear memories. I need this all most of all in the world. I want to listen to the frank conversation of the Armenian taxi-driver, to exchange a word or two with the shoemaker. I want to feel the breath, the colour which is so harmonious to the rhythm of my blood, to the miniature of my soul, to the content of my heart. Fatherland is my point of support in this great world.

On November 7-12 in the RA Defense Ministry trainings with public officers of RA state governance bodies were conducted. The aim was: to expand cooperation between military and state offices in the sphere of strengthening of the state’s defense potential.
According to the trainings program confirmed by the RA Defense Minister, the trainings participants listened to the lectures of high-ranking servicemen: RA AF General Staff Head and heads of departments. With the public officers practical exercises with combat firing and grenade throwing were also conducted.

Recently according to Deputy Head of RA AF GS Lieutenant General A.Paytyan “The Best RA AF Medical Service” Contest has been conducted. For this purpose a Commission was formed which, according to specially worked out criteria, checked all the medical services of the RA Armed Forces. Particularly the degree of medical services recruitment, their activities planning, the degree of operational and mobilization readiness, crew’s military-medical readiness, the level of ambulatory and stationary care organization, sanitary-and-epidemiologic situation and sanitary-and-hygienic ensuring of the regiments were inspected.

“In case if the Azeri snipers hit our servicemen, in the issue of our retaliation the enemy has two, three times more losses and basically among the officers”, – told Colonel A.Hovsepyan to the “Hay Zinvor” correspondent.

According to the Colonel, the Armenian side’s punitive force first of all is aimed at the enemy’s snipers. If they are mostly armed with Azeri production sniper rifles, our units, subject to the given task, are armed with the newest arms of various calibers and range which excel the enemy’s weapons with their capabilities.