PRESS RELEASE                                                       January 31, 2006

Armenian Armed Forces Day Celebrated in Washington, DC

On January 31, the Armenian Armed Forces Day was celebrated in Washington, D.C. during a reception at the Embassy of Armenia. An official holiday in Armenia, it marks the valiance and dedication of the Armenian Armed Forces in defending the independence and freedom of the Homeland.

Ambassador Tatoul Markarian and Defense Attaché Col. Armen Sargsyan welcomed U.S. military officers and officials from the Department of Defense and branch services, the Joint Staff, State Department, members of the foreign diplomatic and defense attache corps accredited in Washington, and representatives of the Armenian organizations. Among the guests were Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense James MacDougal and Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kohler, as well as defense attaches of over 25 countries.