VICTORY – FOR THE SAKE OF THE FUTURE
Leonid Martirosyan

Azat Artsakh Newspaper
11 May, 2010
Nagorno Karabakh Republic

May 9, in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, after achievement its
independence, the eighteenth spring is marked as a threefold holiday.

People of the Nagorno-Karabakh together with compatriots of Armenia
and Diaspora solemnly celebrate the Day of Victory in the Great
Patriotic War, liberation of Shushi and creation of the NKR Defence
Army. May 9 as if has thrown on the original bridge through time in
the extent almost in half a century, having connected two Victories –
our general and huge native land over the German fascism in 1945, and
our native land small and sovereign – in 1992, in Shushi over Azeri
fascism. On the scales of war of 1941-1945-s’ and 1991-1994 they are,
of course, non-comparable, but by that they are not less guilty,
bloody and brutal. But the essence of a victory from it cannot vary.

It won’t be exaggeration to tell, that the victory in Shushi had so
huge value for destiniy of Karabakh people, as victory over fascism
for destiny of all over the world. For both in the first, and in the
second case there was a question – to be or not to be. If Shushi
won’t be released, Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh would
be comprehended inevitably by a fate of our compatriots who have
become victims of Turkish-azery genocides. Liberation of Shushi was
the forerunner of Road of the life which have connected choking in
vice of blockade Artsakh with Armenia. Historical value of a victory
of Shushi is also in it. Yes, the war imposed by Azerbaijan has not
come to the end with liberation of Shushi in 1992. As Azerbaijan
could not reconcile with such strategic loss for it. War proceeded
with tactical problems inherent in it – however the success of the
military operation of Shushi spent with high military skill, by right
is considered a brilliant victory of the Armenian weapon, strength
of mind and an unbending will of our soldiers. For this reason our
people mark with a special celebration the day of liberation of ancient
capital of Nagorno- Karabakh, and liberators of Shushi are especially
esteemed. And for this reason May 9 is considered the day of the NKR
Defence Army, which has become one of the main gains of independent
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the main, reliable guarantor of its
safety and peace development. Being created and becoming tempered in
a war hearth, the Karabakh army has managed in the shortest terms
to turn to the efficient, well equipped armed forces providing
inviolability of borders of the NKR and safety of our people, ready
to reject worthy pressure to any encroachments of the opponent. In
its turn, the people serve as the guarantor of reliability of the
Defence Army, and it is possible to assert safely, that covered with
the Soviet ideology and as if the slogan which has lost an urgency
"People and army are indivisible" in our case have found the real,
vital sense. After all in the hardest conditions of aggression of
Azerbaijan and economic blockade the people have managed to mobilize
the intellectual and material resources, and also moral forces and
to direct them on creation of capable army. Any army is strong with
the back, and with understanding of this true our people have with
firmness stood extreme tests, consciously have gone on big victims
and deprivations. By that our victory is more significant and costly.

On May 9th is especially obvious the communication of the senior and
younger generation of Artsakh people. We think, today veterans of
Great Patriotic hardly probable will dare to complain that "today’s
youth is not that" as it, to admit, happened during Soviet times.

Today’s youth with military affairs and blood has proved, that he –
"that", that it is worthy of unprecedented feats and glory of the
fathers and grandfathers, that he will continue their work and
will protect the ancient and fine native land of the ancestors,
will defend our earth, our freedom and independence. The holiday of
May 9 is not only celebrations. It is, first of all, a day of memory
of our compatriots who have fallen on THOSE, already far, and THIS,
recent, war. In THIS and THAT case – in Patriotic War. As they have
fallen victims protecting honour and advantage of Fatherland, for
the sake of freedom winning the death by death. And in a generality
of this purpose communication and spiritual unity of generations,
communication of the past and the present, the present and the future
is shown. Our victory is paid by excessively high price and it is.