Nagorno-Karabakh Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of War Hero

Monte Melkonyan was born in 1957 in a small town in California. In 1969 his family moved to Spain. After leaving school Monte left for Turkey, afterwards for Lebanon where he studied everything Armenian with great interest. After returning to the United States he went to university to study the history of Urartu. After graduating Monte returned to Lebanon where in 1978 he participated in the defense of the Armenian quarters.

In May 1980 he joined ASALA (Armenian Secret Army of Liberation of Armenia) with some friends. Visiting Nagorno-Karabakh for the first time in 1991 he participated in the fights for the villages of Buzlukh, Manashid, Erkedj in Shahumyan. After a lasting pause he returned to Karabakh and led the troops defending Martakert. People who knew him say his mere presence inspired confidence. For the people of Karabakh, he is a symbol of valor, belief and faithfulness to the homeland.

The hero is buried at Yerablur in Armenia. His anniversary will be celebrated there too. School N 11 will be named after him, a museum and his bust at the Park of Victory will be opened, Regnum report