YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. During today’s awarding ceremony at the Presidential Palace on the Army Day, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian announced the launch of a new program aimed at providing persons who became disabled during the military service with jobs, reports Armenpress.

The Presidential institute, jointly with the government, healthcare and defense ministries, has proposed a program which is called the Defender of the Homeland.

“The program aims at assisting those persons who have put their lives under danger during the service and became disabled as a result. And the number of such persons, the patriotic sons, unfortunately, is not less. And of course these people have a full right not only to be respected, loved, but also to continue participating in our public, political and economic life. Therefore, the Homeland’s Defender initiative aims at assisting disabled servicemen and finding a job for them. In other words, the initiative should be a connecting link between the persons who served in the Army and became disabled, the Army and the state structures, public, charity organizations, the business”, the President noted.

Two-three of disabled soldiers will soon be employed at the Presidential Office. “They perhaps suffer physical difficulties today, but each of them is a bright personality and can return to life via a respective support, an educational program, become a full person, and not only to receive pension, but also to participate in life, feel themselves more confident, and of course, to solve their problems starting from material ones up to personal life. And the first one of this program whom we have accepted for work is Gor Darmanyan who is a participant of the April four-day war, is a hero, disabled,  but is working at the Armenian Presidential Office”, Armen Sarkissian said.

The Republic of Armenia and Armenians around the world celebrate the 27th anniversary of the Armenian Army’s establishment on January 28. On January 28, 1992, the Government adopted the “On the Defense Ministry of Armenia” historic decision, heralding the formation of the Armenian Army. In May of 1992, the ministry held the first drafting, laying the foundation for the stable tradition of drafting conscription servicemen to the Army.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan