November 17, 2014

“Peacekeepers are one family”, servicemen tell the pupils

 

Within “NATO Week in Armenia”, representatives of Armenian Armed Forces peacekeeping brigade and UK Ambassador to Armenia Katherine Leach visited N196 Ashot Navasardyan basic school in Yerevan on November 14.

During the meeting with pupils and teachers, the guests spoke about Armenia-NATO cooperation, the service of the Armenian peacekeepers involved in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Before the meeting, those present observed a moment of silence to respect the memory of killed pilots during downing of MI-24 helicopter which was carrying out a training flight in Artsakh.

Katherine Leach spoke about NATO and NATO-Armenia cooperation. The Ambassador told the pupils that NATO member states are grateful to Armenia to take part in the peacekeeping actions and noted that Armenia currently has more peacekeepers in Afghanistan than some members of the Alliance.

Major of the peacekeeping brigade Davit Aghabekyan spoke about the Armenian peacekeepers’ service in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Each time leaving for the mission we strive to do our best to uphold the honor of our homeland and armed forces”, said Davit Aghabekyan.

Telling about their relations with peacekeepers from other countries, he noted:

“No matter in which country and with whom the peacekeepers serve, they all realize that they have a single objective. We are one family in this place and we should back each other irrespective of nationality, religion or race. During the service, we learn from the foreigners and so do they”.

At the end of the event, Director Anush Navasardyan said that they are ready to host events which strengthen army-society ties and are interesting for the pupils in future as well.