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Armenia celebrates 25 years of independence

On September 21, 1991, a referendum was held in the republic with the overwhelming majority of people voting in favor of independence and a democratic future for the country

The Grand Cascade, one of the top destinations in Yerevan Stanislav Krasilnikov/ITAR-TASS

The Grand Cascade, one of the top destinations in Yerevan

© Stanislav Krasilnikov/ITAR-TASS

YEREVAN, September 21. /TASS/. On Wednesday, Armenia is holding widespread festivities in honor of the 25th anniversary of its independence. A military parade that took place in the country’s capital of Yerevan has turned out to be the celebration’s main event. On September 21, 1991, a referendum was held in the republic with the overwhelming majority of people voting in favor of independence and a democratic future for the country. The creation of a national army is considered to be one of the most significant achievements of the past years.

The country’s leadership headed by President Serzh Sargsyan has attended the military parade.

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A unit of the Russian troops deployed to Armenia in accordance with the Russian-Armenian intergovernmental agreement, took part in the parade. While the Russian military servicemen were marching across the square, the announcer commenting on the parade highlighted the fact that "this unit makes part of the Russian-Armenian Unified Group of Forces and has been ensuring the republic’s security side by side with the Armenian military." "Long live our brothers in arms!" the crowd in the square shouted.

"The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) membership, allied cooperation with Russia, political and military cooperation with the UN, the OSCE, NATO and other international organizations, as well as with the US, China, the neighboring countries, other allied countries and partners facilitate the development of Armenia’s Military Forces and promote their active participation in ensuring global security," the announcer stated.

Along with five Army Corpses, other units and divisions representing the country’s military colleges, a unit of the Armenian Peacekeeper Force Brigade also marched across the square. At present around 200 Armenian military servicemen are participating in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Mali.

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