ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATES ARMENIAN NATION ON 89TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST ARMENIAN REPUBLIC DECLARATION
Arka News Agency, Armenia
May 29 2007
YEREVAN, May 29. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan has
congratulated Armenian nation on 89th anniversary of First Armenian
Republic Declaration, governmental press office reported on Monday.
In his words, battles in Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan and Gharakilisa
laid precious groundwork for today’s independence. "Armenian people –
militia, clerics and intellectuals – fighting along with regular army,
displayed extraordinary heroism and won these battles", Novosti-Armenia
News Agency quoted the premier as saying.
In his national address, Sargsyan also said that the nation will
continue its efforts to strengthen statehood based on democratic
values, to preserve all achievements and to develop economy.
"I wish you sustainable peace, creative work and strong belief in
our country’s future", the prime minister said.
In May 1918, Armenians won battles near Sardarapat against Turkish
invaders.
May 28 is marked in Armenia as the First Republic’s Independence Day.
On May 26, 1918, after South-Caucasian Seym collapse and independence
declaration by Georgia, regional assembly of Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Dashnaktsutyun dictatorship powers to Armenian National
Council in Tiflis. On May 28, the Council declared Armenia’s
independence.
Armenia managed to retain its independence until soviet regime
institution here on December 2, 1920.
Soviet Armenia (1920 to 1991) is considered as the second republic
and the third republic declared its independence on September 21,
1991, after secession from Soviet Union.