This year Gyumri will be the center of Armenia’s Independence Day anniversary celebrations. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced about this Sunday, ahead of the Gyumri Day concert in the second largest city of the country.

“On September 21, the main [Independence Day anniversary] celebrations will take place in Gyumri, and thus, we are putting a start to a new tradition,” he said. “So, every year we are going to move the celebration of September 21 from province to province, and we will start from Gyumri. And today I want to announce Gyumri Month till September 21.”

The PM noted that Gyumri Day is a celebration for all Armenian towns and settlements, and he explained why Gyumri is so important to all Armenians.

“In the more difficult years for our people, Gyumri has preserved the image, character of our people,” he said, in particular.

Pashinyan added, however, that the perception of Gyumri should change.

“It’s enough that we perceive [1988 earthquake] disaster zone when saying Gyumri because Gyumri is a center of work, culture, victory, now, also, already of revolution, people’s victory, civilization and democracy,” he said. “Going through defeats, we [Armenians] have been able to give new strength to our will to victory.”

Also, the Prime Minister of Armenia called on everyone to come and see Gyumri.