YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. In the heroic battles of Sardarapat, Gharakilisa and Bash-Aparan the ancestors of Armenian people gained the right to live, President Serzh Sargsyan said at the event in Sardarapat Memorial dedicated to the Republic Day on May 28, reports Armenpress.

"These battles were the last and fatal efforts of people standing on the brink of annihilation to defend the last land pieces of our historical Fatherland and save the last remnants of our people. This seemingly impossible heroic deed was carried out by all circles of our people. The acted with unique unity and organization, selfless courage and persistent will. They acted with high level of national consciousness and historical responsibility", the President said.

He added that the newly-independent Armenia was born under the torrent of the World War I volleys.

"Every year we repeat as a loyalty oath a simple truth: if there was no May 28, 1918, there would be no Soviet Armenia and the present-day Republic of Armenia", the President stated. 

After his speech the Armenian high-ranking leadership led by President Sargsyan laid flowers at the memorial of fallen heroes.

A solemn march was held in Sardarapat dedicated to Republic Day.