YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Ahead of the Pan-Armenian Games the goal of the public gathering at Stepanakert’s Revival Square is to send a message to the world-spread Armenians and refer to a number of important issues, Amenian PM Nikol Pashinyan said in his speech.

''We often say that the revolution that took place in 2018 has created new realities in the Republic of Armenia. We also often note that those realities should have their direct impact on the life of Artsakh and Diaspora. Today we discuss in what way that impact should take place'', ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan as saying. He emphasized that the developments of 2018 were called non-violent, velvet and popular revolution. According to him, the revolution happened in the way it had been planned. It did not result in shocks in any sphere, starting from the banking sector, until economy and politics.

''The word ''popular'' underlines the role of the people, who acted as the main beneficiaries. Which people do we talk about? Do we really talk only about the people of the Republic of Armenia? The answer to this question can be found in the preface of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, Pashinyan said, citing the relevant section of the Constitution, saying ‘’The Armenian people — taking as a basis the fundamental principles of the Armenian Statehood and the nation-wide objectives enshrined in the Declaration on the Independence of Armenia, having fulfilled the sacred behest of its freedom-loving ancestors for the restoration of the sovereign state, committed to the strengthening and prosperity of the fatherland, with a view of ensuring the freedom of generations, general well-being and civic solidarity, assuring the allegiance to universal values — hereby adopt the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia’’.

The PM noted that the Constitution clearly says who are the founders and owners of the Republic of Armenia – the Armenian people and the Armenian people are those to decide and be responsible for their fate.

‘’The revolution of 2018 proves it. The developments were not limited only in Armenia. Armenians living in far-away cities had their contribution by organizing public events and rallies. Many people came to Armenia and represented their communities in Yerevan. So what was the role of Artsakh? Thousands of residents of Artsakh, students, politicians were actively involved in the revolutionary process’’, Pashinyan said, emphasizing that Artsakh was able during the days of the revolution to ensure stability on the front line, giving confidence to Armenians involved in the revolution. ‘’Any provocation on the frontline could drastically change the logic of the developments and result in unpredictable consequences’’, he said, emphasizing that if before and after the revolution Armenia is standing with Artsakh and supporting it, during the revolution of 2018 Artsakh stood with Armenia and the revolution, greatly fostering that process.

‘’When we say popular revolution, we have to understand pan-Armenian revolution’’, Pashinyan said, adding that the revolution has taken place, but is not over yet, because the enshrinement of values is a longer process.  

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan