Nikol Pashinyans: We realize historical responsibility to architects of First Republic

Celebrating today the anniversary of our First Republic, we come to restate our understanding of the historical responsibility to those  who helped create the independent statehood, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at Sardarapat Memorial Complex today, congratulating the Armenians on the national holiday.

In his speech at a ceremony dedicated to the 101st anniversary of the First Republic, the prime minister also expressed his high esteem for the feats of the great heroes who realized the ideas of liberty and independence through the heavy battles of Sardarapat, Gharakilisa and Bash-Aparan. ''We come to voice - as well as convey - our message to the heroes of the three battles, [to let them know] that their blood was not shed in vain, that their generations today stride proudly across the same land where their bodies were laid to rest and to which they imparted a new meaning and content with their unspeakable sacrifices and feats,'' he said, remembering also the great statesmen standing at the roots of independence.

The prime minister added that many legendary heroes of the Artsakh liberation battle (as well as Four-Day War in April 2016) drew their inspiration from the heroic deeds of those who fought until their last breath to liberate the country from the Turkish yoke.

''And hence, long live freedom! Long live the Republic of Armenia! Long Live the Republic of Artsakh and glory to the heroes of Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan and Gharaklisa! Glory to the founding fathers of the First Republic! Glory to us and our children who live and are going to live in the free and happy Armenia,'' he said.