SHUSHI – CORNERSTONE OF VICTORIES
By Kim Gabrielian, Stepanakert

AZG Armenian Daily
10/05/2007

May 9th has a peculiar importance in Karabakh, as it covers three
memorable holidays. It’s difficult to give preference to one of
them. The sacrament of these holidays is: it is impossible to win
the struggling people.

The foundation of the Defense Army of Nagorno Karabakh is connected
with the liberation of Shushi. The military actions of Shushi were
realized by the defense forces of Artsakh. Till today the liberation
of Shushi causes the military theorists’ surprise and admiration.

The auhorities of Nagorno Karabakh, and also Azerbaijani authorities
knew that possession of Shushi would mean the possession of the whole
Nagorno Karabakh.

We know today that the Azerbaijani military forces, which were placed
in Shushi at that time, planned to attack and capture Stepanakert, with
the help of the subdivisions of the 4th armed forces of USSR. It would
mean the actual collapse of Karabakh. Fortunately, this intendance
of the enemy was prevented. The defense forces of Karabakh attacked
Shushi and liberate it during a night. It was a brilliant manifestation
of military skills.

It was the base of the foundation of Nagorno Karabakh Defense
Army. Shushi became the cornerstone for the further victories. The
victorious way stretches up to May of 1994, when the enemy was forced
to sign an agreement of armistice.

According to Hovhannes Arzumanian, veteran of WWII, forefather
of Artsakh’s journalism, the soldiers of Kharabakh excel their
grandfathers in courage. And it confirms that the act of motherland’s
rescue passes from father to son.

What happened 15 years ago is now celebrated as a Day of Victory in
Stepankert, despite of Azerbaijan, where May 9th is a day of sorrow.

Today’s military parade in Stepanakert is the manifestation of the
military might of Nagorno Karabakh Defense Army.