ROBERT KOCHARYAN: THE KARABAKH MOVEMENT WAS THE PEACEFUL AND LEGITIMATE EXPRESSION OF A FAIR DEMAND
armradio.am
20.02.2008 13:48
President Robert Kocharyan issued an address to the people of Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the
Karabakh Movement.
"Dear compatriots, Today is a memorable day, the 20th anniversary
of the Karabakh Movement. This Movement is the newest stage of the
struggle for the self-determination of the Artsakhi people, which
marked the start of national revival.
The Karabakh Movement was the peaceful and legitimate expression
of a fair demand. It was countered by massacres, displacements and
large-scale military actions. It grew into a national-liberation
self-defense war.
The Artsakhi war bore many heroes and demanded victims. However, it
also hardened the will of our people and deepened the conviction that
there is no alternative to independence. The independence of Nagorno
Karabakh is no more a sole means for maintaining national identity,
but also the only real guarantee of peacefully developing on own land.
The generation of contemporaries of the Movement is not familiar
a status other than independence. The Nagorno Karabakh Republic
registered serious achievements in state-building. This includes
the establishment of state structures, reinforcement of democracy,
economic development and productivity.
Once again congratulating you on the occasion of the 20th anniversary
of the Karabakh Movement, I express my sincere gratitude to all
those who have been doing and are doing everything for the progress
of Artsakh. I wish peace, prosperity and new achievements in the
state-building of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic."