Address of the President of Republic of Artsakh, Bako Sahakyan, on the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

• 04.24.2015, 09:59
•  Armenia,  NKR

President of the Republicof Artsakh  Bako Sahakyan made a statement on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. 

Below is the full text of the address:

Address of the  President of Republic of Artsakh, Bako Sahakyan on the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

Dear compatriots,

Today the entire Armenian nation, all the Armenians in different parts of the world commemorate the 1.5 million innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Today bells are ringing in all Armenian churches throughout the world notifying the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; each ringing revives our 100-year-old pain and sorrow.

The wounds of 1915 are still fresh in our national memory and cannot be cicatrized as long as this villainous atrocity, committed against the Armenian nation by the Ottoman Empire at the turn of the 20th century in plain view of the world does not receive proper acclaim, as long as this criminal policy continues nowadays, each time acquiring new forms and names.

We appreciate and are grateful very much to all the peoples and states, who lent their helping hand to our compatriots having miraculously escaped from the Turkish scimitar,  who granted to tens of thousands Armenian families and orphans shelter and opportunity to live. Those Armenian eventually became deserving citizens of those countries, substantially contributing to the development of their second homelands. We are grateful to all those who raised their voice against barbarians, offering their humanitarian support, countenance and political aid to our people, who recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide. 

The Armenian people, one of the oldest bearers of civilization, have underwent many calamities throughout its millennia-old history, suffered indescribable privations and faced countless challenges, but never lost hope and faith, each time becoming even more steadfast, stronger and wiser. Being subjected to Genocide and losing almost everything the Armenians have preserved and protected their faith and language, culture and national identity. This has helped us forge glorious victories years later and restore the independent Armenian statehood. 

Today Mother Armenia, free and resolute Artsakh, patriotic Diaspora together, hand in hand carve their life path. This is the path of the Armenian nation towards eternity, justice and victory.