Losing Artsakh would close last chapter in our history – Karabakh war legend Monte Melkonyan died 20 years ago today (video)
The heroic war for the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh marked a new epoch in his life.
Fighting for years for the revenge of the Armenians who had suffered the big Genocide in the World War II period, Monte Melkoyan moved to Artsakh in the late 1980s, shortly after the country was entangled in the undeclared war with Azerbaijan.
“We must now invest all our efforts in this endeavor, hold a victory and put an end to this. Peace must be achieved only through our victory; a peace without our victory is impermissible. We know Armenia is facing economic hardships. We understand it isn’t easy; but neither is war. We must understand that; we must die, put all our effort in the military fight and win. And it will be good for us later. If we do not win the war, history will come to a halt, I think. We can close the chapter of our history should we lose this piece of land,” the hero would said.
An active member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D) and a champion of the Armenian Cause, Monte joined the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) in 1980, becoming one of its leaders.
Monte was jailed in France’s Orly airport in 1981 over the well-known operation Van. He was accused of holding a fake passport and carrying a weapon.
When the French court wanted to expel him from the country in the wake of the scandal Monte announced that the passports of all Armenians residing in France, the United States and elsewhere would be considered fake as long as their native lands remain under Turkish occupation.
Monte was in jail over terrorism charges from 1985 until January 1989. After leaving prison and travelling across different states, he finally came to Armenia where the fight for Nagorno-Karabakh was already under way. Adopting the nickname Avo, he went to Artsakh to join the battle. He undertook command of military headquarters in the Martuni region.
Karvachar, a strategically important town in the Shahumyan region, was liberated under his command. He died a hero’s death on June 12, 1993.
Videos
Interview with Francis Malige, EBRD Managing Director
Armenians Commemorating 106th Anniversary of Genocide
Biden Under Pressure to Recognize Armenian Genocide - KTLA 5 News
Governance and Oversight Capacities Account for Our Bank's Robust Management System - Philip Lynch, Independent Board Member at Ameriabank
'Mr. President, It Is Now in Your Power to Right Decades of Denial' - US Congressman Adam Schiff Urges Joe Biden to Recognize Armenian Genocide
Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in Despair After Trauma of Military Defeat - France 24
Interview with Kakhaber Kiknavelidze, an Independent Member of Ameriabank Board of Directors
Only Terrorists Keep Hostages, Putting Forward Preconditions for Their Release - Edmon Marukyan
Rep Adam Schiff Says Congress Should Recognize Artsakh
UN's Guterres Issues Global Appeal to Make 2021 'Year of Healing'
NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Landing Animations
Azerbaijan Uses Prohibited Phosphorus Chemical Munitions - Defense Army Video
Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Arms Supplies
Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Drone
Nagorno-Karabakh's Status Has Been At the Heart of Our Approach - Zohrab Mnatsakanyan
Artsakh Defense Army Releases Video Featuring Damaged Azerbaijani Military Equipment
Artsakh Defense Army Units Inflicting Manpower Losses on Azerbaijan
Gas Pipeline Damaged in Azerbaijani Fire Targeting Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital
President Armen Sarkissian Meets Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace
Artsakh Defense Army Neutralizes Azerbaijani Military Hardware
Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Military Infrastructures
President Armen Sarkissian Meets with NATO Secretary-General in Brussels
Buildings and Homes Lying in Ruins in Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital After Azerbaijani Shelling
Artsakh Defense Army's Precision Fire Gives Deadly Blow to Enemy
Artsakh Defense Army Units Destroying Azerbaijani Tank
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Ceasefire Does not Mandate Azerbaijan to Kill Civilians and Hit Civilian Settlements
Armenians Protest Outside Turkrish Embassy in Los Angeles
Losses in Azerbaijan's Military Featured in Defense Army Footage
Artsakh Defense Army Neutralizing Adversary's Transport Column
Turkey openly backs Azerbaijan 'far more aggressively than in the past' - ABC News on Syrian mercenaries fighting in Karabakh
Iconic Armenian Church Hit in Azerbaijani Attacks in Nagorno-Karabakh City (photos)
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War Situation in Karabakh on European Parliament's Agenda
Call for Urgent Action: Armenian Journalist Brings Intn'l Colleagues' Attention to Situation iin Artsakh After Azerbaijani Attacks
Turkey's Support to Syrian Mercenaries Fighting Against Artsakh: Facts About Azerbaijani Aggression
Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital Under Azerbaijani Strikes
Armenian Armed Forces Neutralize Azerbaijani Defense Positions
ArmenianTroops Destroy Azerbaijani Armored Fighting Vehicle on Frontline
There is a solid evidence that Azerbaijan has launched a thoroughly planned attack on the NKR
EU calls for Immediate End to Hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh
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- 23:42 • 28.09.20 There is a solid evidence that Azerbaijan has launched a thoroughly planned attack on the NKR
- 18:45 • 28.09.20 EU calls for Immediate End to Hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh
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