YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRSS. The Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Galust Sahakyan has sent a congratulatory message to the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Ashot Ghulyan on the occasion of Artsakh Independence Day. The Information and Public Relations Department of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” that the message runs as follows:

"Honourable Mr Ghulyan,

In the name of the RA National Assembly and on my own behalf I warmly congratulate you on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Declaration of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. As an Artsakh national holiday, it is, in its essence, meaning and significance, a pan-Armenian holiday, as the free and self-sovereign Artsakh was born due to all-national united struggle, all-national efforts, embodying the fair desire and striving of our compatriots in Artsakh, Armenia and Diaspora.

For more than 20 years the second Armenian state is “de facto” an undeniable participant of regional processes, confidently moving to “de jure” recognition. It is not a merely geographical territory, but a country of a people, who has restored with blood and victory the distorted historical justice and its right of living in its own Motherland, where the humanely recognized values and systems are at much higher level, than in some neighbouring countries, the idea of self-sovereignty and the desire of completely realizing it are irreversible, and the will of defending them steadfast. The Azerbaijani recent inglorious diversions are the best evidence of it, when the defensive army and the people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic again showed that their victories are continuous, the borders are inviolable and reliably defended, the chosen path of freedom is firm, and all kinds of efforts, including the military efforts to distract them from that path is failed.

I am confident that year by year the inhabitants of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic will feel themselves citizens of a stronger, more welfare and more competitive country, having their deserved place in the democratic family of the international community.

Once again I congratulate you, dear Mr Ghulyan, on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Declaration of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and in the person of you I wish the Artsakh people peace and prosperity, continuous resoluteness and firmness of spirit in the protection of independence and the territorial integrity of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, in the further strengthening of the country."