President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian today held phone talks with merited doctor, heart surgeon Hrayr Hovakimyan, who recently received the title of National Hero of the Republic of Armenia and was conferred the Order of the Homeland.

The President praised Hovakimyan’s services to the homeland and people and his professional, humanitarian and dedicated work that has helped save numerous lives.

Sarkissian said it was worth remembering Hovakimyan's arrival in Armenia nearly three decades ago and the opening of a children’s heart surgery unit at Nork-Marash Medical Center in Yerevan in 1993 and the opening of the heart surgery unit for adults in 1996. Thanks to Hovakimyan’s surgeries, many children had a chance to live again. President Sarkissian stated that the title of National Hero of Armenia is also the gratitude of those children and their families to the great compatriot.

The doctor said his main goal is to transmit his knowledge and experience to the young generation so that the children’s heart surgery unit continues to grow and achieve great heights through the efforts of young, educated and skillful specialists.

On behalf of Armenians and himself, President Sarkissian expressed gratitude to Dr. Hovakimyan for his patriotic acts and humanitarianism and voiced hope that he would have the opportunity to meet him in Yerevan and personally grant the highest award of the homeland.