My predecessors are from Old Julfa. My father a general of Indian Army Vanik Minas lived in Kalkata. My grandfather (from father) Tigran I haven’t seen instead of that I won’t never forget my grandmother Mary from Julfa. She was a powerful woman. The characters of my grandma and father were similar: both were too proud of their Armenian roots, were strict, persistent, disciplined, honest and dominant… Both beat me (there was also an occasion for beating). My grandma says: “This stick will make you an Armenian”. She says: “As soon as you come home from school, go and kiss the stick, because you won’t be a man without this stick”.

The first guarantee for the elevation of combat-readiness and operational readiness level of the Armed Forces which are destined by the defense reforms, is discipline, and considerable progress is observed in this sphere. The rise of legal awareness (recognition of own rights, duties and responsibility) also stimulated military service security. Quarters’ construction and improvement of soldiers’ social conditions are one of the significant achievements of the 2008-2012 stage. There is a progress also in the sphere of interpersonal attitudes.

From 1 to 13 October in the regiments dislocated in Ararat, Gegharkunik, Syunik, Tavush districts regiment, battalion or company tactical trainings with combat firing were conducted.

On October 4 in Yerevan the 6th All-Armenian Conference of Journalists “Towards the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide” with participation of Armenian representatives of 89 newspapers, agencies, TV-channels and radio-stations of various world countries was held.

Basically people participated with readiness, we conducted guidance work. They understood that these trainings are an essential function to ensure the country’s defense capability. However there were people liable for call-up with various social problems which, naturally, caused obstacles. There were a few cases of refusal, those materials were sent to appropriate legal instances to make them answerable.

Republic of Turkey through the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the Armenian side to participate in aerial photography works of Turkey’s some provinces adjacent to the Republic of Armenia. RA Defense Ministry representatives – Topography Division Deputy Head Lt. Colonel Arthir Galstyan and aerophotographer Lt. Colonel Gevorg Khurshudyan went to Turkey for this purpose.