The second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, on Wednesday issued a message on the occasion of the Republic Day anniversary.

The message reads as follows:

"Dear compatriots,

I congratulate [you] on the occasion of the Republic Day.

It is impossible to alienate the spirit of Sardarapat from our people, and dangerous for those who make that attempt.

I am sure that the example of unity and organization of Sardarapat will still inspire us to get out of this despair, to develop, to strengthen our country, to restore our dignity."

The Armenian people celebrate First Republic Day anniversary on May 28. On this day in 1918, the Armenian statehood that had been disrupted for centuries was restored. In May of that year, Armenian regular forces and volunteers managed to win life-and-death battles against the Turkish invaders in Gharakilisa, Bash-Aparan, and Sardarapat, stopping their advance and their desire to completely seize Armenia.