SERZH SARGSYAN: "PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT WILL BE FIRST OF ALL BASED ON THE CONSENT AND FREE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF ARTSAKH."

Noyan Tapan
Sep 3, 2009

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. President Serzh Sargsyan issued
an address of congratulation on the occasion of the Nagorno Karabakh
Independence Day. He noted that "for this holiday we are first of
all indebted to those who became immortal putting their lives on the
altar of homeland and freedom."

Stating that the past eighteen years reaffirmed the obviousness of
the historic decision made in 1991, the President noted that today
the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh is a fully-fledged state with its
structures, army and with citizens who master their own destiny.

"Today, we and the international community deal with a modern republic
which embodies the ideals of freedom, sovereignty and democracy,
and which is progressing, developing its economy and culture, and
defending peace in spite of all objective and artificial difficulties,
hard ordeals," the address of S. Sargsyan read.

According to the RA President’s Press office, S. Sargsyan has
assured that over these years the Republic of Armenia and the entire
Armenian nation have been and will continue to be Artsakh’s reliable
supporters. "I assure all the citizens of Artsakh and all Armenians
that the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will
be first of all based on the consent and free will of the people of
Artsakh," the RA President’s address mentioned.

According to the Press and Public Relations Department of the RA
National Assembly, Speaker of RA National Assembly Hovik Abrahamian
has also issued an address of congratulation on the occasion of one
of the most significant holidays symbolizing the achievements of the
Armenian nation, the 18th anniversary of NKR Independence Day.

"Bowing our heads for the memory of those who sacrificed their lives
to the independence of Artsakh we have to be more obliged and realize
that the main pledge for a peaceful life of our people, creating and
having new success is continuous unity," the address of the Speaker
of RA National Assembly noted.

H. Abrahamian wished happiness, strength and vigor to the whole people
of Armenia and Artsakh and he wished united will and purposefulness
in the defence and strengthening of Artsakh, raising the welfare for
Armenians and for realizing the Armenian national goals.

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian’s address read that in these
days 18 years ago the independence of NKR was being forged in the
battlefield and now NKR is a well-organized state which has steady
state and public institutions and a model democracy.

According to the Press and Public Relations Department of the RA
government, the Prime Minister noted that each newly independent
country can be proud of such achievements. "At this moment of pride
we bend our heads before the memory of all those with the blood and
privation of which we won freedom and independence of the people of
Artsakh," the address of S. Sargsyan read.