October 7, 2009 - 22:58 AMT
Armenia celebrates 20th anniversary of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan
On October 7, members of CIS Council of Afghan War Veterans visited Victory Park of Yerevan to lay flower wreaths on the monument of victims of Great Patriotic (1941-45) and Afghan Wars (1979-1989). They were accompanied by Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and Head of RA Armed Forces Headquarters, Colonel-General Yuri Khachaturov.

The same day, Afghan War Veterans from CIS states gathered in Defense Ministry to conduct a session devoted to the 20th anniversary of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. In his speech, Minister Ohanyan stressed the importance of building future without forgetting past. "We don't have the right to forget the heroism and selflessness of those who participated in wars," Ohanyan noted.

Participants thanked Minister for warm reception and handed him a symbolic souvenir. In his turn, Seyran Ohanyan awarded some veterans with "Marshal Baghramyan" and "Admiral Isakov" medals.