19TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION MOVEMENT BEING CELEBRATED IN NKR TODAY

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Feb 20 2007

Today RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsian presented the Nagorno-Karabagh
Republic /NKR/ Defense Army with RA State order "Tigran Mets" for
"great services to the Motherland" in Stepanakert. Two military units –
the Central Defense region and the NKR Defense Army Zenithal-Missile
Brigade – have been awarded an order "Battle Cross" of the first and
second degrees.

The ceremony of rewarding was held in the Revival Square, DE FACTO
own correspondent in Stepanakert reports.

Answering the journalists’ questions, Serge Sargsian noted the army
should do its best for the political leadership to more confidently
negotiate on the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict settlement. He disagreed
with an opinion that the political situation in Armenia was so serious
that it could imperil RA and Nagorno-Karabagh’s borders.

According to the Minister, the fact that the nation can gather on
the square and celebrate its memorable days is great achievement.

In connection with the 19th anniversary of the Karabagh
national-liberation movement the youth’s march was held in
Stepanakert. The participants of the march carried the Nagorno-Karabagh
Republic’s flag along the city streets.

To remind, February 20, 1988 the session of the Nagorno-Karabagh
Autonomous Region People’s Deputies Council rendered a decision to
apply before the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for the region’s cession
from Azerbaijan to Armenia, which marked the beginning of a new stage
of the Karabagh movement.