Robert Kocharyan's Message to Bako Sahakyan

On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Artsakh, the first President of the NKR and the second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, sent a congratulatory message to the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Bako Sahakyan.

While congratulating the President of Artsakh on the 28th anniversary of the Republic's Independence, Robert Kocharyan emphasized the importance of the historical choice made by the people of Artsakh nearly three decades ago, reflecting on the significance of this important day and the special role of President Bako Sahakyan in strengthening the statehood of Artsakh.

President Kocharyan also delivered a congratulatory message to the people of Artsakh, the text of which is presented in full below:

“Dear Artsakh citizens,
I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Artsakh! 28 years ago, we made a historical choice. By realizing the aspirations of our people, Artsakh, united as one fist, declared Independence and courageously defended it with arms. I fondly remember the time when we had the opportunity to work and fight together for victory and the establishment of independent statehood.

On this historic day, let us once again honor all our comrades-in-arms who forged the Independence of Artsakh with their blood. Eternal memory to our heroes who fell on the battlefield.

Dear compatriots,
Today, Artsakh is once again facing difficult challenges amid an unfinished war. The events taking place in Armenia, which have a certain negative reflection in Artsakh, as well as the upcoming electoral struggle, should not divide the people of Karabakh. The military-political elite of Artsakh must exert maximum efforts to ensure that internal political upheavals do not affect the country's military capacity, national unity, and the spirit of victory that has always characterized the people of Artsakh. I am confident that a victorious nation and its heroes cannot falter before anyone, including those who sow hatred, distort history, and pursue a destructive policy of annihilating national values.

Once again, I congratulate you on this occasion and wish you all good health and fruitful work for the glory of the Republic of Artsakh.”