ArmInfo. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian sent congratulations on the occasion of Artsakh Independence Day.
The message spread by the press service of the RA President, in particular, reads: "Dear compatriots, I congratulate Artsakh on the Independence Day. Was September 1991 a turning point and fateful in the Armenian reality? Artsakh declared independence on September 2, and on September 21, Armenia held a referendum on Artsakh was the spark that sparked and spread the flame of freedom in the Armenian world. Our people rose to defend their rights, to take a worthy place in the family of modern nations. It was a truly historical period for the realization of our dreams and opportunities, the potential of which we were well aware both in Artsakh and in Armenia. The proclamation of independence became an accelerator of the formation of sovereign statehood in Artsakh. Today, 29 years later, the Republic of Artsakh is an established state formation, thanks to the struggle waged by the pan-Armenian forces, thanks to the victory achieved by the unity of Artsakh, Armenia and Diaz Since then, thanks to the will of the people of Artsakh, today it is a guarantee of its success. I bow before all the heroic martyrs who gave their lives for an independent and free Artsakh, I express my gratitude to all those who sacrificed their health and well-being to achieve this goal. Artsakh was the touchstone of the national will, and today it continues to be the axis of our unity. As for the people, for all Armenians every achievement in Artsakh is a stone on the reviving wall of the great Armenian world. Therefore, our thoughts and efforts, our work should be aimed at strengthening security and peace in the Motherland, Artsakh and in Armenia, at ensuring the well-being of our people. This awareness should be the highest in each of us, because the struggle for the complete freedom of Artsakh, the restoration of the violated rights of our people is not over yet, it is still going on. Once again, I congratulate you on the Independence Day of the Republic of Artsakh, I wish you peace, prosperity and optimism. "
Let us remind that today, September 2, marks the 29th anniversary of the independence of Artsakh. It was on this day, September 2, 1991, at the joint session of the Nagorno-Karabakh regional and Shahumyan regional Councils of People's Deputies, which adopted the Declaration on the Proclamation of the Nagorno- Karabakh Republic. From that day on, the modern history of Artsakh began as an independent, sovereign state. The people of Artsakh expressed their determination to build and strengthen their statehood on the basis of democratic norms at the referendum on independence on December 10, 1991 and at the referendums on the adoption of Constitutions on December 10, 2006 and February 20, 2017. 99.89% of citizens (108,615 people) who took part in the referendum answered affirmatively to this question. In the parliamentary elections that followed the referendum, the NKR parliament was elected, which formed the first government. Yesterday, on the occasion of the Artsakh Republic Day, an award ceremony was held at the Artsakh President's residence.