NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh Republic] marks “triple” holiday

Arminfo, Yerevan
9 May 05

STEPANAKERT

Festivities are in process in the NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh Republic] on
the occasion of a triple holiday in the country – the Day of Victory
in the Great Patriotic War, the liberation of Shushi and the
establishment of the defence army.

According to ARMINFO’s special correspondent in Stepanakert, on 9 May
the NKR leadership, headed by President Arkadiy Gukasyan, will visit
the local memorial complex to pay homage to those killed in the
wars. An official delegation is expected to arrive in the republic
from Armenia. A festive fireworks display is expected at the central
square of revival, with festivities being held in Shushi as well.

Speaking of the holiday of 9 May, the defence minister and commander
of the NKR defence army, Lt-Gen Seyran Oganyan, pointed out that one
of the important factors in Nagornyy Karabakh’s success in the war it
was dragged into by Azerbaijan was that the new generation of Karabakh
people received education in the spirit of their fathers and
grandfathers. He pointed out the peculiarity of the NKR army as it had
been established simultaneously with the military actions. “Today we
have military units which do not yield to the former Soviet army in
terms of their fighting preparedness,” the minister said.