STEPANAKERT. - President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Bako Sahakyan made a congratulatory statement on occasion of Day of First Armenian Republic, the NKR President’s presss-service reports. The statement reads:

“Dear compatriots,
On behalf of the Artsakh Republic authorities and myself I personally and cordially congratulate on the Day of the First Armenian Republic.

The 1918 battles of Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan and Gharakilisa occupy their worthy place in the heroic chronology of our people's history.

During their centuries-long history the Armenians become convinced many times that the main guarantee of secure life is an independent statehood, its consistent reinforcement and faith in their own strength. The Four-day April war when Azerbaijan once again tried to carry out its genocidal policy towards the Armenian people has demonstrated this too.  But, it faced the force and spirit of the Armenian army and was unable to carry out any of his aggressive goals.

Today it is everybody's duty to keep alive the victorious spirit of our hero ancestors in the memory of generations to come, having before our eyes their example, guided by the national ideology and selfless patriotism, do everything possible for the two Armenian states develop day by day, become stronger and more powerful. The only way to accomplish this is a consolidated and cohesive work, aggregating the potential of world-spread Armenians and efforts of any individual Armenian for the benefit of the solution of paramount national issues. Only in this way we can forge new victories and go to a secure future.

I once again congratulate our whole people on the state holiday and wish peace and great success."