On April 26, the servicemen of the Border Guard Troops of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia celebrated the professional holiday, Border Guard’s Day. Traditionally, the main event of the day became the solemn parade.
The event was attended by Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, RA National Security Service Director Arthur Vanetsyan, RA Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan, RA Police Chief Valery Osipyan, RA Minister of Emergency Situations Feliks Tsolakyan, Secretary of the RA Security Council Armen Grigoryan, representatives of embassies in Armenia, officers of Border Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Armenia, former heads of Border Guard Troops (who had a considerable contribution to the formation of troops), veterans and other dignitaries.
Congratulating on the occasion of the holiday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated.
“The border is one of the most mysterious concepts, which can exist or exist. Just a single dividing line, on the other side of which, even a meter away, you feel far from home, while only one centimeter this way you feel already at home. By saying “Republic of Armenia” we first of all mean our borders, since they indicate our place on the globe, our position under the sun, our future and our vision of the past. Border guard service and the Border Guard’s Day are extremely important from this point of view.
Today we are celebrating the Border Guard’s Day, first of all, bearing in mind the National Security Service and Border Guard Troops of the National Security Service, but I want to note that due to well-known circumstances, being a border guard is not only a profession, but also a mission, that mission is fulfilled today with honor by our border guards; it is fulfilled with a sense of great responsibility by the officers of the Armed Forces and the Police of the RA. Today, we have de facto “border villages” or “border settlements” in Armenia.
And in this sense, Border Guard’s Day is a holiday not only for the servicemen of Border Guard Troops of the National Security Service, but also for our Armed Forces, for our people, because each of us, regardless of whether we work in Yerevan or in one of the outpost or the region of border of the RA, first of we all think about the border, as border security is the security of our country, the security of our future and the security of our children.
I want to thank Border Guard Troops of the National Security Service the Armed Forces of the RA, Police of the RA, border guard troops of the Russian Federation, the residents of border villages for protecting Armenian State border entrusted to them”.
Congratulating the border guards on the occasion of the professional holiday, colonel Artur Vanetsyan, RA NSS Director, noted that the borders of the Homeland are sacred, and the protection of them is the responsibility of Armenia and all its citizens.
"The border guard is in the first line of the mission. I am convinced that each border guard treats his/her service with high consciousness and responsibility. The Armenian government and the people have entrusted us a borderline, from where our country and the security of our families begin, and finally the rise of New Armenia begins from the border too.
The professional holiday is a good opportunity to thank and evaluate the border guard's dedicated work. I express my gratitude to our partners in the Russian Federation, the Armed Forces, the RA Police Internal Troops, as well as all the state institutions our border guards cooperate efficiently with. I assure you that our borders are reliable" noted the Director of the NSS.
A number of servicemen and veterans were awarded with medals, badges and other awards for the achievements in ensuring border security on Border Guard’s Day.
After the solemn parade, flowers were laid at the monument in honor of border guards who died for the homeland. Then the prime minister together with honorary guests examined the weapons and military equipment samples, got acquainted with the educational and cynological centers.