ArmenPress
May 7 2004

PRIME MINISTER ANDRANIK MARGARIAN’S ADDRESS ON THE OCCASION OF MAY 9
VICTORY AND PEACE DAY

YEREVAN, MAY 7, ARMENPRESS: Dear compatriots,
I congratulate you all cordially on the occasion of Victory and
Peace Day. As part of today’s reflections, each year on this
wonderful and festive day we get once again united by the feelings of
solidarity, national spirit and sacred dignity, thanks to which we
have gained all our historical achievements and victories.
Today when we continue building our independent state that has
entered into the second decade of existence, we cannot fail to
realize that one of the major conditions to withstand many ordeals
that are still on our way is to recollect the heroic pages of our
past. In order to build a peaceful and safe future we have to first
of all assess our historical achievements, to pay tribute and bow
down to the memory of hundreds of thousands of those heroes, who
sacrificed their lives for our homeland’s independence, its
continuance and peace.
Our heroic people have crowned their name with fame also in World
War II. Armenians contributed heavily to the victory over fascism
both in the ranks of the Soviet Army, partisan warfare, while
Diaspora Armenians did their share in the ranks of the allied armies
and Resistance Movement.
That was the victory that gave a new start to peaceful and
creative work of the civilized world and our people.
The glorious pages of our new history were created in the trenches
of Karabagh war with the craving for freedom and the belief in future
peace, and the heroic liberation of Shushi on May 9, 1992 was the
evidence of the present day triumph of Armenia’s arms.
Sending my warmest congratulations to our compatriots in Armenia,
Diaspora and Karabagh, our war veterans on the occasion of Victory
and Peace Day, I wish you all good health, peace and creative work
for the welfare and strengthening of our independent state, for the
prosperity and development of our country and our people.