YEREVAN.- Independence Day belongs to everyone, but first and foremost to a citizen of Armenia who has taken responsibility for it, said leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian.

According to him, the greatest achievement of independent Armenia is that “we have gained the right to be responsible for our destiny.” It is the second time the Armenian nation retains this right and the third opportunity will never be given, Hovannisian told journalists on Friday.

As regards the losses, he mentioned two tragic events – 2009 parliament shooting and March 1 events.     

Armenia declared independence back in August 1990 becoming the first on-Baltic republic to secede from the Soviet Union.