Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan issued an address to the nation on occasion the Artsakh Revival Day.

“On behalf of the republic's authorities and myself I cordially congratulate you on this very dear and memorable holiday – the Artsakh Revival Day,” Mr. Sahakyan said.

“February 20, 1988 marked the lives of Artsakh people as the beginning of the revival of nationwide unity and freedom-loving spirit becoming a truly national holiday. On this very day we announced to the world our resoluteness to live freely and independently in our own soil and to build a sovereign and democratic state. It was an appeal to protect human rights and freedoms, a peaceful, just and legal claim corresponding to the fundamental norms and principles of international law.

Our path has been hard and difficult. Artsakh found itself in the thick of the imposed war that brought about heavy destructions and numerous victims. The best sons of the Armenian people sacrificed their lives for our national liberation movement. Eternal glory and honor to them!

Today in Artsakh we have a reliable basis for steady progress. Our goal is stable development of the economy, continuous strengthening of the defensive capacity, improvement of living conditions of the population, building of modern and prosperous state. We are able to resolve all the problems we face, always keeping bright the spirit of 1988.”