NK CELEBRATES 61st ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR, FORMATION OF NKR DEFENSE ARMY AND 14 YEARS OF LIBERATION OF SHUSHI

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
May 10 2006

STEPANAKERT, May 10. /ARKA/. Nagorno-Karabakh simultaneously celebrated
three holidays, namely 61st anniversary of victory in Great Patriotic
War, formation of the NKR Defense Army and 14- years of liberation
of Shushi.

According to “ARKA”s correspondent in Stepanakert, festival began
early in the morning with festive march of army columns along the
streets of the republic.

Authorities of NKR, with President Arkady Ghukasyan at the head, as
well as governmental delegation from Armenia headed by the RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan visited Memorial Complex of the capital,
where they honored the memory of people killed in the Great Patriotic
and Karabakh wars. Flowers were laid at the memorials of the Great
Patriotic War hero Marshal O. Baghramyan, legendary hero of Karabakh
war Ashot Gulyan and on graves of perished warriors.

Solemn events were held in Shushi. Flowers were laid on the memorial of
Vazgen Sargsyan and twice Hero of Soviet Union, pilot Nelson Stepanyan.

In educational institutions and institutes of Nagorno-Karabakh meetings
were held with veterans of the Great Patriotic War and Karabakh war,
concert and sportive events.

In the evening in the central square of Revival of Stepanakert local
and invited from Armenia artist performed in front of people of
Karabakh and after which was a festive firework.