24 YEARS # 5-6 (1140-1141) The Noah’s Ark 20 February 23 YEARS 2017 The #28 Noah’s Ark Published(1116) Since 1993 25 July Weekly Newspaper H I G H L I G H T S Նոյյան Տապան շաբաթաթերթ (անգլ./ֆրանս.) 2016 Published 9 Parties, Blocs Enter Since 1993 Weekly Newspaper HIGHLIGHTS ÜáÛÛ³Ý î³å³Ý ß³µ³Ã³Ã»ñà (³Ý·É. / ýñ³Ýë.) Armenian Parliamentary Race Hostages Released In Yerevan see page 3 See p. 2 InIn ThisThis IssueIssue Noyan Tapan Press-Center U.S.Armenia Condemns sends Armed 40 tons Attack of on Armenian Noyan Tapan Press Center holds different discussions, press conferences, round tables, teleconferences, seminars each week which are broadcast Policehumanitarian aid to Syria p.7p.5 live on the Internet. We invite you to take advantage of the Center, as well as to place your banner in our Press Room. Tel: 060 35 11 22. 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Our youth, the freedom loving and defiant generation of our independence, reasserts that our tree of life is healthy, strong, and abundant. The Homeland Defenders have been living for decades under the motto “If necessary, we will go again to defend the Fatherland.” It became necessary last year, in April. And you went again. Many of you now have grey hair, but you went and stood next to our young lion cubs. You went to share their bur- den but also to give a new spirit and resolve to the new but not less valiant defenders of our land. For them at that time you already were “uncles”. It never occurred to us during the Artsakh Liberation War. Now, I will address you just like our young soldiers address you. Uncles, On February 18, President Serzh Sargsyan try. It is intertwined with the history of lib- Let no one doubt that we are devoted un- participated at the 11th Convention of the erating, defending and strengthening of our conditionally to the task of defending our Homeland Defenders Voluntary Union own country. In the end of the day, stories of homeland, we are ready at any moment to (HDVU) which took place at the Karen the people present in this hall represent the stand at the frontline, in trenches together Demirjyan Sport and Concert Hall. At the collective history of our struggle and our vic- with our young soldiers, our regular army Convention, President Sargsyan made wel- tories. to defend our Fatherland, we are true to our coming remarks addressed to the participants When the country was in danger, farmers, pledge, and we are loyal to the bright memo- and the guests. intellectuals and workers had become the ry of our fallen brothers in arms. homeland defenders. You carried out your The Homeland Defenders Voluntary Statement of President Serzh Sargsyan mission with honor. Today, from the de- Union as a non-governmental organization at the 11th Convention of the Homeland cades’ perspective we can confidently call has a unique status within our society. This Defenders Voluntary Union your deeds a “historic mission”. You came fact speaks of your power, speaks of your back to your peaceful work at the moment it organizational strength, unity, and a great Holy Fathers, became possible. reputation within the society. Dear Combat Friends, You came back with the pain of loss of your Today Armenia stands at the threshold of a Dear Brothers in Arms, combat friends in your hearts but also with serious reformation and transformation. We I salute the participants and guests of the the understanding that the ceasefire, which are making a transition to the parliamentary 11th Convention of the Homeland Defend- the enemy was forced to accept, was not model of governance and we have to make ers Voluntary Union. an ultimate peace yet. You came back with the transition painless. In the process, we also Homeland Defenders movement formed the understanding that there were still many have to ensure stability and the rule of law. along with the development of our modern things to do until the ultimate peace was es- Taking this opportunity, I would like to say statehood and had an outstanding role in the tablished in our land and serenity reigned on that the Republican Party of Armenia at the defense of Artsakh and Armenia. our borders. elections will appear as a strong team, with From that time on, the very name Home- Dear Homeland Defenders, the figures who, in the case they receive the land Defenders is used in singular as well as This structure has been carrying out an im- vote of the people, are ready to speak from in plural and means a strong individual and a portant job and today too is working actively. the podiums in Moscow, Brussels, Washing- union of bright individuals. You know the details better than I do, but I ton, through the leading mass media outlets The HDVU has formed traditions and prin- would like to stress particularly the important and make the voice of the Republic of Arme- ciples at the origins of which was the founder role which you have had in the military and nia audible from every possible and impossi- and irreplaceable leader of the Union Vazgen patriotic education of our young people. ble platform. They will be ready through the Sarkissian. These traditions and principles The bright youth we have today in Armenia daily work to make the Constitution a reality are maintained and developed in step with is the product of the efforts made by our state and in any dispute to promote their credo the millennia-long march of our country and and the entire society. The product created by through eloquence and willpower alone. our society. the families but also by the participants of the They will not lie to people, will not say that In our society, Homeland Defenders repre- Artsakh Liberation War, which means your one year from now Armenia will become a sent an entire stratum. It’s a unique stratum in personal example and that of your brothers paradise, will not lie, will not tell that if they which the biography of its each member is in arms. get your vote, they will give free gas and intertwined with the biography of our coun- Any tree is judged against its fruits. Let all electrical power to our people, will not say 20 February #5-6 (1140-1141) w 2017 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights POLITICS 3 that young people will not be drafted to the ple have short memory. This kind of reason- Artsakh. Army. They will say things they can deliver. ing, which has neither legal nor moral base, I see it as my duty to declare from the po- They will say that every day our country will once resulted in the escalation of the conflict dium of this Conference that every provoca- make a step forward. We will participate in and in the war with numerous unnecessary tion will receive a worthy response. Politics these elections with well-known individuals victims and suffering first of all for the people based on illusions have no future and cannot but actually a new team and its voice will be of Azerbaijan itself. have. Last decades have proven that. strong. By my directive and certainly by his Many of you remember that at the begin- We stand on the premise of a true balance own consent, we have included on that team ning of 1990s, when in Azerbaijan ministers of forces. We are changing the reality mak- also our esteemed general Manvel Grigorian. of defense were replaced every week, every ing our country freer and more democratic, Besides his experience and personal quali- single one of them viewed his duty to make a because we believe that as a result of these ties, he is also a prominent symbol for those statement that in a week, or a couple of days changes we will have more efficient gover- who will tomorrow be elected to the Nation- later he would be drinking tea in Stepanakert. nance. More efficient governance will in turn al Assembly: each initiative, each statement However, as the history shows, through the make us more competitive and more capable and each voting, even a short remark will be efforts of the heroic sons of our nation they of defense. done under the general’s gaze which is an didn’t drink tea in Stepanakert, instead they Dear Homeland Defenders, amalgam of the fight for freedom and com- lost the opportunity to drink tea in Aghdam, In conclusion, as always I urge you to keep mitment of our future victories. Fisuli, Jabrail, Kubatly, Karvachar, and other the gunpowder dry – our struggle is not Today some in Azerbaijan live under the places.