Army reform programme aimed at enhancing Armenian army`s efficiency -  ambassador 

ArmInfo.On February 4, a ceremonial event dedicated to the 33rd anniversary of the formation of the Armenian Armed Forces was held at the Officers' House of the Greek Ground Forces, in which the Minister of Defense of Greece Nikolaos Dendias also took part.

As reported by the Armenian Embassy in Greece, the participants of  the reception were welcomed by the Ambassador of Armenia to Greece  Tigran Mkrtchyan and the military attache, Lieutenant Colonel Armen  Mirzabekyan.

Mkrtchyan congratulated on the 33rd anniversary of the formation of  the RA Armed Forces, noting that the Armenian army is one of the most  important factors of the sovereignty and independence of the RA, and  the more self-sufficient and strong the army is, the stronger and  more self-sufficient the state is. The ambassador added that the  programs for reforming and modernizing the armed forces are aimed at  increasing Armenia's defense capability.

Speaking about the friendly Armenian-Greek relations, Mkrtchyan  touched upon the strong ties that have been established between the  Ministries of Defense and the General Staffs of Armenia and Greece,  as well as the cooperation that has expanded further in recent years:  from regular high-level meetings to military exercises and special  training courses. In this context, special attention was also paid to  the trilateral Armenia-Greece-Cyprus cooperation.

He also stressed the importance of the military training of Armenian  servicemen in Greek military academies for many years. The Ambassador  expressed special gratitude to the General Staff and the Ministry of  Foreign Affairs for responding to Armenia's request to eliminate the  damage caused by the floods in the northern and northeastern regions  of Armenia, as well as for providing Armenia with three bridges.

The Armenian diplomat also paid tribute to the fallen soldiers and  volunteers, in this context also mentioning Major Mkrtich Hakobyan,  who died as a result of the Azerbaijani aggression in 2020 and was a  graduate of the Evelpidon Military Academy in Greece. The Armenian  Ambassador also honored the memory of the family of Armen Saghoyan,  who died in 1994, and expressed gratitude for the presence of  relatives at the event.

The event was attended by high-ranking officers of the Ministry of  Defense and the General Staff of Greece, high-ranking officials of  other government departments, members of the National Assembly, more  than two dozen ambassadors and diplomats accredited in Greece,  military attaches, representatives of the clergy of the  Greek-Armenian community, as well as public figures and  representatives of the Greek- Armenian community.