YEREVAN. – The priority of the authorities and people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) is to build a strong, democratic, social and legal state, and to ensure the safety of our citizens, NKR President Bako Sahakyan told Lenta.ru, a Moscow-based online newspaper.

When asked how it is possible to live under uncertainty and constant threat of resumption of military actions, the President of Artsakh said, in particular: “It’s natural that the NKR not being recognized has quite a strong impact on the republic and the lives of its citizens.”

In his words, all the while, however, the people of Karabakh have acquired a high resistance against the biggest difficulties.

“Historically, it was formed in a way that we had to constantly fight for our freedom, independence, honor and dignity, [and] live and develop in a harsh geopolitical environment,” added President Sahakyan. “And this means that we perceive non-recognition solely as a temporary difficulty which we definitely need to surmount.”