CELEBRATIONS IN APARAN AND VANADZOR

armradio.am
22.05.2008 17:25

"If not the heroic battle of Sardarapat, there would not be either
the first, or the second Republics of Armenia. The heroic battles of
Vanadzor, Aparan and Sardarapat determined the birth of our Republics,"
member of the Council of the "Nig Aparan" compatriotic union Tigran
Petrosyan told a press conference today.

According to him, it is with the comprehension of this that we
celebrate May 25 as the Day of Aparan battle. Festive events will be
held in Aparan on that day. Monuments to Drasdamat Kanayan and Sedrak
Jalalyan will be unveiled in the city square.

The historian is assured that the Aparan battle in no way yields to
that of Sardardpat. Regular forces were fighting in Sardarapat, while
in Aparan only the population was to resist the enemy. He urged not to
use the words Bash-Aparan and Gharakilisa, which do not sound Armenian.

Director of the Armenian State Philharmonics Gagik Manasyan informed
that most of the arrangements planned on the occasion of the 90th
anniversary of the May battles have already been conducted. However,
the main ceremonies are scheduled for May 25-28.

Military parades, concerts will be held in Aparan on May 25, Vanadzor –
on May 26 and Sardarapat – on May 27. "The unity of spirit and might
brought victory to the Armenian people: this very idea will lay in
the basis of all these events," Gagik Manasyan said.