16:57, 24 November, 2012
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Monte Melkonian would celebrate his 55th birthday on November 25. As reports “Armenpress” advancing the 55th anniversary 
of the hero Hovsep Hakobyan – a fighter of Monte’s military unit, said that Monte was one of the first to say that it’s impossible to triumph in the war via separate troops and put forward the idea of the army. Hovsep Hakobyan stated: “It’s rather difficult to describe him. Monte believed in the triumph, work and nation. That honest man initiated a strong army.”
According to Hakobyan Monte used to say: “If we lose Karabakh, then we will turn the final page in the Armenian history.”
Intelligence officer Vova Vardanov said that in the beginning he was reluctant to work with Monte Melkonian, as he adhered to the opinion that an Armenian from Diaspora should not be engaged in the intelligence. He stated: “Notwithstanding, after I never regretted that I have met him and fought beside him. The more our servicemen resemble Monte, the better for our army.”