STEPANAKERT. – The President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR; Artsakh), Bako Sahakyan, on Friday issued an address in connection with the Memorial Day of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
“Dear compatriots:
“Today the entire Armenian nation, all Armenians in different parts of the world, commemorate the memory of the 1.5 million innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.
“Today bells are ringing in all Armenian churches throughout the world notifying the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, each ringing reviving our 100-year-old pain and sorrow.
“The wounds of 1915 are still fresh in our national recollection and cannot be cicatrized as long as this villainous atrocity, which was committed against the Armenian nation by the Ottoman Empire at the turn of the 20th century in plain view of the world, does not receive proper acclaim as long as this criminal policy continues nowadays, each time acquiring new forms and names.
“We appreciate very much and are grateful to all the peoples and states that lent their helping hand to our compatriots who had miraculously escaped from the Turkish scimitar, granting shelter and opportunity to live to tens of thousands Armenian families and orphans. They eventually became deserving citizens of those countries, substantially contributing to the development of their second homelands. We are grateful to all those who raised their voice against the barbarians, offering their humanitarian support, countenance and political aid to our people, and recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide.
“The Armenian people, being one of the oldest bearers of civilization, have undergone many calamities throughout their millennia-old history, suffered indescribable privations and faced countless challenges. But they have never lost hope and faith, each time becoming even more steadfast, stronger and wiser.
“The Armenians, being subjected to Genocide and losing almost everything, have preserved and protected their faith and language, culture and national identity. This has helped us forge glorious victories years later, and restore the independent Armenian statehood.
“Today, Mother Armenia, free and resolute Artsakh, patriotic Diaspora carve together, hand in hand, their life path. This is the path of the Armenian nation towards eternity, justice and victory,” the NKR President’s address reads.
