STEPANAKERT. – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), or Artsakh, President Bako Sahakyan on Saturday issued a congratulatory address on the occasion of Motherland Defender’s Day, which is celebrated in NKR.

“Dear compatriots, respected generals, officers, soldiers, venerable veterans, on behalf of the Artsakh Republic’s authorities and myself in person, I congratulate you cordially on the Motherland Defender’s Day.

This is a holiday for both the republic’s armed forces and our entire people, who stood side by side at the crucial moment of defending their ancestor’s land and shaping the future of the generations to come, who united without any hesitation to protect the Motherland, and drew the boundaries of the homeland by the blood of their brave sons.

On this festive day, I bow my head in memory of our fallen sisters and brothers. Eternal glory and honor to all the devotees of our Motherland. Glory and honor to the Armenian army, which contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region entire.

We ought to, and will definitely do, our utmost to keep the combat-readiness and the triumphant spirit of our armed forces at high level—corresponding to modern-day requirements—strong, and formidable.

On this memorable day, I congratulate once again all Armed Forces staff and the entire Armenian nation in Artsakh, Armenia and the Diaspora, and wish peace, good health, and further success in carrying out the sacred, noble mission of defending the Motherland,” the NKR president’s message reads.