Hero of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Vitaly Balasanyan has conveyed a message on the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia. The message reads as follows:

“On May 28, Armenia, Artsakh and, in general, all Armenians of the world celebrate First Republic Day.

On May 28, 1918, the Armenian National Council announced the establishment of the independent Republic of Armenia, the symbol of the rebirth of Armenian statehood.

The restoration of statehood determined the fate of the Armenian people, and it is the First Republic of Armenia that laid the foundation for reestablishment and preservation of the state mindset and preservation of the Armenian identity and national values.

May 28th is one of the symbols of our nation and embodies the past of the nation and the transmission to the future generations.

Happy May 28th!

Long live Armenian Statehood!”