War is Won Not Only with Weapons: Armen Sarkissian Hosts Participants of the April War

The President of the Republic of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian, hosted a group of former conscripts who participated in the April 2016 military operations on March 29, who have established the "Union of Participants of the April Military Operations" NGO.

Expressing gratitude for their dedicated and conscientious service to the homeland, the President notably stated: “There is an absolute simple truth. What happened during those days is in the consciousness and hearts of our entire people. No one has forgotten anything and will not forget. Your union is very valuable because in reality, victories come to those who are ready.” President Sarkissian emphasized, alongside the bravery of the young men, their experiences which hold great value. “Wars are won not only with weapons but also with spirit, heart, and mind,” said President Sarkissian. “If any one of those is missing, you are incomplete. If you only have heart, you can be a patriotic guy who might rush out and die. If you only have a brain, you may not be able to cross some borders because logic might say: don’t do this. But when both work together, that is the key to victory. You must be confident that what you did, you did for the homeland, and you did it for yourselves too. When I was young, one of the most impressive thoughts to me came from Napoleon Bonaparte, who, when speaking about battle, said: I calculate and plan for battle, but I also plan for all possible scenarios in which I might lose, meaning I do not plan to win, but I exclude failure.”

The President regarded the heroism of the young men who defended their homeland with their lives, health, and courage during the April operations as an example of patriotism for the new generation.

“You have gone through an unexpected, involuntary difficult path, lost friends, and today each of you is a completely different person than you were before the war,” the President stated. He simultaneously noted that every soldier’s life holds great value and that everything must be done to prevent unfortunate incidents.

The members of the Union of Participants of the April Military Operations stated that their goal is to unite all conscripts who participated in the April military operations, and they prioritize supporting the families of fallen comrades. In response, President Sarkissian remarked, “For many of them, you are their sons.”

The young heroes also noted that one of the pressing issues ahead is to assist the wounded. President Sarkissian discussed the support program for soldiers who acquired disabilities during service, emphasizing that they were wounded for the sake of the homeland, and the state must demonstrate through actions that it values that sacrifice. His exhortation was to involve those soldiers who acquired disabilities during or because of service in both public and private realms, integrating them into full life. The members of the Union also brought up the issue of acquiring a space for their organization, which would facilitate its full operation. The President promised to assist in finding a suitable solution.