ANC: Recognizing historical realities and joining forces, we will  restore traditions of Artsakh in Armenia`s political life

ArmInfo. February 20, 1988 is more than just a symbol.  This date marks the beginning of a  period in history when Armenia, after a two-thousand-year hiatus, became a political factor influencing the course of world events, as noted in a statement issued by the Armenian National Congress.

The statement  highlights that on February 20, 1988, the decision of  the Regional Council of the Nagorno- Karabakh Autonomous Region and  its nationwide support launched a movement destined to play a  historic role not only in the fate of the Armenian people.

"The Artsakh, or Armenian, democratic movement was unprecedented in  the 70-year history of the Soviet Union in its political nature,  scale, duration, endurance, consistency, impeccable methods of  action, and international resonance. For approximately six months,  standing alone against the Soviet Empire, known for its repressive  methods, the Artsakh movement became a center of confidence and  courage, giving rise to democratic movements in other republics of  the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The key issue of Artsakh was not  raised as a demand, but as an internationally acceptable one,  including in accordance with the USSR Constitution, which included  the people's right to self-determination. On the other hand, the  matter of Artsakh's self-determination was based on the broadest  democratic principles. And this became a guarantee of its  invulnerability within the Soviet Empire, as well as its authority  and support in the international arena," the statement reads.

It also emphasizes that Artsakh, or the Armenian democratic movement,  and its government first resolved the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh's  survival during the turbulent years of the USSR's collapse, and then  the problem of its complete liberation, creating security guarantees  and a reliable foundation for its survival that it had never had  before. They achieved Armenia's independence and the construction of  statehood on a democratic foundation and played a key role in the  safe dissolution of the Soviet empire.