YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian visited Chinari community of Tavush province on the sidelines of his working visit, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

President Sarkissian met and talked to the locals. Watching the dance performance of the village’s children the President invited them to the Presidential Palace on New Year.

Armen Sarkissian said he visited this community for the first time during the student years and was impressed especially with the nature and the hospitality of its residents. “I want to thank you for being firm and attached to the land”, the President told the villagers, adding: “I first of all want to bow my head for the memory of those residents of the village who fell for the defense of the homeland. I think about you every day, about those people who stand on the border, live in difficult conditions, protect not only their family, but also build programs for their children, for these amazing kids who have dreams. I want to assure you that you are not forgotten.

It was a great pleasure for me to see today those residents of Chinari who left for Ukraine, Russia, but came back. Some day everyone will come back. You can take the homeland with you, but during the years that love and pain start growing and you want to come back. I urge those residents of Chinari who live abroad to come back. You have a duty to share your success with your compatriots. We as well both as a presidential institute, a government or a parliament, have a duty before you because you protect the best part of our country – the village of Chinari”.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan