STEPANAKERT. – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR; Artsakh) President Bako Sahakyan on Saturday issued an address on the start of the international conference titled “Armenian Genocide as a Crime against Humanity.”
“Respected participants of the conference:
“I welcome all of you to the Artsakh soil and congratulate on the start of such a significant event.
“You perform a great work carrying out the research and condemnation of crimes against humanity, protection and promotion of fundamental human rights and freedoms, democratic norms, principles and human values. It is a special mission that deserves the highest assessment.
“It is very much symbolic that the international conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide is held in Artsakh. Exactly a century ago, Ottoman Turkey organized and brutally realized on a state level the genocide of the Armenian people, as a result of which our people lost the greater part of their historical homeland and became refugees spreading all over the world.
“The fact that this unprecedented massacre in the human history was not properly recognized gave birth to new crimes. The pogroms of the Armenians organized in 1988 in Sumgait and in 1990 in Baku as well as the war forced upon the Artsakh people are the best manifestations of this. But this time the enemy’s plans to exterminate our people were doomed to failure, as the century-long pain and losses strengthened the freedom-loving Armenian soul, and made our nation stronger and unwavering.
“During the Artsakh Liberation War, the entire Armenian people stood side by side to defend their native land, ancient language, faith and culture, and carve their future with their own hands. National unity and cohesion as well as the independent Armenian statehood became the symbol and guarantee of our victories, which should be kept and cherished as the apple of an eye. With this conviction and consciousness, we were able to resist the enemy, overcome all the ordeals and difficulties, and build the two Armenian states that together build their reliable future.
“Respected friends:
“I am confident that the conference will efficiently resolve the matters set before it and have a worthy contribution to the process of Armenian Genocide recognition.
“I wish all of you successes and all the best,” the NKR President’s address runs.
