PRESS RELEASE                                                      
August 9, 2007

Embassy of Armenia, Armenian Organizations Bid Farewell to the Armenian Army Officer

On July 23, the Embassy of Armenia together with the Washington-based Armenian community bid farewell ceremony to Lt. Georgi Nalbandian, an officer of the Armenian Armed Forces who had been receiving intensive therapy at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., since last November. Lt. Nalbandian was severely injured in Iraq, where he was serving as a member of Armenia’s 46-person-strong humanitarian contingent. During his stay at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Lt. Nalbandian has remained under constant attention of the Armenian Embassy staff and has received support from the members of the Armenian-American community in the Greater Washington area, many of whom visited him at the hospital.

In his remarks during the ceremony, Ambassador Tatoul Markarian commended Lt. Nalbandian for his courage, strong will and determination, and thanked all those who have helped Lt. Nalbandian. Ambassador Markarian also thanked the U.S. government for organizing full medical treatment and rehabilitation of the Armenian Army officer in the U.S. The farewell ceremony, hosted by the ARF Sebouh Committee, also featured remarks by the pastor of Soorp Khatch Armenian Church, Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian and Sebouh Committee Chairman Hovsep Avakian.

Also, a delegation of St. Mary’s Armenian Church led by its pastor Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan met with Lt. Nalbandian on July 24 and expressed support and good wishes on behalf of the parish.

Upon completion of his recuperative stay in Washington, Lt. Nalbandian returned to active duty in the Armenian Armed Forces.