GENERAL ANDRANIK’S SWORD AND MEDALS HANDED TO HISTORY MUSEUM OF ARMENIA

00:00, 29 November, 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS:In a high-profile ceremony defense minister Serzh Sarkisian handed today the sword and the medals of General Andranik to Armenian History Museum. Speaking to reports the minister said the defense ministry released money from its off-budget to buy the sword and the medals. “A French Armenian told me that a Briton who held Andranik’s sword and medals wished to sell them. Naturally I could not remain indifferent and after receiving president Kocharian’s O.K. we bought these relics for Armenia,” the minister said. The sword and the medals were first kept at the Armenian embassy in France and then brought to Armenia. Sarkisian said he had no concerns that this move would be termed by his political opponents as part of an election campaign. “I think there are people who may think that way, but we have to do our job. If someone thinks that I roved across the globe in search of these relics he is mistaken,” the minister said. General Andranik medals are six decorated on him by Russia, France and the Armenian Catholicos. General Andranik fought against the Ottoman Turks in Western Armenia, then in Bulgaria and was instrumental in stopping Turkish invasion of Eastern Armenia in 1918-19 In 1919 Andranik disbanded his army and left with a group of loyal solders rather than be involved in political infighting. In 1922 he settled in Fresno (USA.) He died in Fresno in 1927. Some months later his remnants were conveyed to Per-Lashez cemetery in Paris. His remains were moved to Yerablur cemetery in Yerevan in 2000.