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Time in Yerevan: 11:07,   28 March 2024

“We are in ceasefire, guys, do not shoot”: Today is Armenia National Hero Monte Melkonian's birthday

“We are in ceasefire, guys, do not shoot”: Today is Armenia National Hero Monte Melkonian's 
birthday

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. If we lose Artsakh, it will be the last page of the History of Armenia. Author of the abovementioned call on vigilance addressed to the Armenian people and those in the battlefield Monte Melkonian would become 57 on November 25.

“Armenpress” reports that Monte Melkonian who was born on November 25, 1957 in the United States of America learnt about his Armenian origins when he was 12. At 15 he travelled to 41 countries of Europe, Africa and the Middle East with parents, as well as visited Western Armenia. Monte entered the University of California, Berkeley aged 20, majoring in ancient Asian history and Archeology. He founded “Armenian Student Union” during university years and organized an exhibition dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. He received scholarship for doctoral thesis at the University of Oxford. However, Monte did not leave for Britain; he left for Western Armenia to study rock-cut tombs and dwellings of Vaspurakan. In 1991 Monte came to Armenia and he worked in the National Academy of Sciences for 8 years.

On February 4, 1992 Melkonian arrived in Martuni as the regional commander. Upon his arrival the changes were immediately felt: civilians started feeling more secure and at peace as Azeri armies were pushed back and were finding it increasingly difficult to shell Martuni's residential areas with GRAD missiles.

Monte was killed in the abandoned village of Merzili in the early afternoon of June 12, 1993 during the Battle of Aghdam. According to Markar Melkonian, Monte's older brother and author of his biography, Monte died in the waning hours of the evening by enemy fire during an unexpected skirmish that broke out with several Azerbaijani soldiers who had gotten lost. Monte died in the arms of his closest and most trusted comrade.

Monte Melkonian was posthumously awarded with the titles of the Hero of Armenia and Hero of Artsakh, Order of the Combat Cross of the First Degree of NKR, the order of “Gold Eagle” etc.

One of the memories about Monte is how Monte treated ceasefire and its violation.

“We are in ceasefire, guys, do not shoot,” he used to order the soldiers.

“What if the rival shoots?” “Then blow their doors off,” Monte used to answer.








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