Our Failures on the Battlefield Must Turn into Victories. Nikol Pashinyan

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of Victory Day. In his message, he stated:

“Dear compatriots, dear people, I congratulate all of us on the 77th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. This holiday symbolizes the end of World War II and the beginning of a new era in the history of humanity. With the victory in the war, civilized humanity dealt a significant blow to one of the greatest evils, fascism. The role of the Armenian people in this endeavor is invaluable, as more than half a million of our representatives contributed significantly to the struggle to save humanity from fascism within the ranks of the Soviet Army and the armies of allied countries.

Many Armenians displayed heroism and selfless dedication in this fight, sacrificing their lives for the sake of civilization. In World War II, we suffered more than 300,000 casualties. 107 Armenians were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and many of our compatriots fought in the armies of allied countries, participating in the anti-fascist struggle of several nations and thus immortalizing their names.

Today, we bow before the deeds and memories of our heroes and martyrs, taking pride in the heroism of our ancestors. It was the spirit of our grandfathers and fathers, who were honored in the Great Patriotic War and World War II, that merged with the spirit of volunteerism in the early 1990s, becoming a testimony to our struggle for survival, the victory in the first war for Artsakh, and the liberation of Shushi.

Today, after the 44-day catastrophic war, we reluctantly and bitterly acknowledge that we not only failed to transform the victory of the first Artsakh war into a diplomatic, political, and economic triumph, but also lost many of its fruits. Artsakh and Armenia are facing serious challenges.

However, our response to this situation should not be a requiem but a sober, cold, and informed analysis of the reasons that have led to the current geopolitical and regional state and the pragmatic planning for the future. The blood of our martyrs, who gave their lives for the Motherland, should not be squandered, and the greatest manifestation of their deeds must be the strengthening of the Armenian statehood, the full realization of the rights of the Armenian population of Artsakh, the peaceful development of our generations, and regional peaceful coexistence, which is the only reliable guarantee of the security of Artsakh and Armenia.

The political majority supported by the people's vote is leading Armenia down this path, understanding all the difficulties that may arise. We are ready to face those difficulties because we are guided by the belief that yes, we are moving along a difficult but right path. We are not the authors of the disasters that have befallen our country; we have deserved a harsh fate and a sacred mission: to lead our Motherland through the inevitable and long-standing disasters materialized before all our eyes and to bring it to a peaceful, prosperous, and happy future.

Dear people, dear compatriots, the victories we have achieved on the battlefield have not always been turned into victories in life. Our failures on the battlefield must be transformed into victories in education, science, industry, economy, and foreign policy, with the sum total leading to lasting and sustainable peace and the comprehensive resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

Today we bow our heads in honor of our ancestors, our fathers, our brothers, and our children who fought for the Motherland and dedicated their lives. The victories they achieved in wars and our failures in wars must become victories in life. Eternal glory to our heroes!”