The National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh has issued a statement on the occasion of the Artsakh Revival Day.

The statement of the National Assembly on the occasion of the Artsakh Revival Day was presented by MP  Gegham Stepanyan. The draft was adopted by 30 votes in favor.

The statement runs as follows.

"The events that took place in February 1988 in Artsakh (the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region) radically changed the further chronicle of not only the Armenian people living here, but also other nations of the former Soviet Union.

Tens of thousands of people, using the liberal and democratic ideas proclaimed in the USSR, through peaceful rallies in Stepanakert and other settlements of the region, were trying to restore historical justice - the unrealized dream of several generations about the reunification of the Armenian region with Armenia.

Unfortunately, the leadership of the Azerbaijani SSR could not use that exceptional chance to solve the problem correctly, and as a result, the region found itself in the net of Azerbaijan to solve the issue by military means.

As a result of the February 20 decision expressing the will and desire of the absolute majority of the population of the region, Artsakh rightfully became a symbol of pride and national awakening of all Armenians. The wave of the Karabakh movement spread all over the world and as a result of the organized struggle of all Armenians, two Armenian republics were formed in the early 90s of the last century.

Our people have paid an immeasurably high price in the struggle for the freedom and independence of Artsakh. Thousands of Armenians sacrificed their lives during the war in 1991-94, the April four-day war and during the 44-day war of 2020.  

Over the past 34 years, we have passed a long way of formation and development, victories and failures, and during this time the idea has strengthened that the future of the Armenian Artsakh is guaranteed only in the perspective of a free and independent life.

Expressing the collective will and opinion of the people of Artsakh, the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh

• Reaffirms its loyalty to the historic decision taken in February 20, 1988 and the determination to defend its right to live freely in its native land,

• Draws the attention of interested international structures and, first of all, the parliaments of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries to the fact that the Armenian people of Artsakh have been fighting for centuries to preserve their identity, they have created material and cultural values that are now under threat as a result of Azerbaijan's occupation of some territories of the Republic of Artsakh,

• Call on the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to take immediate steps to resume the negotiation process on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in accordance with the mandate received from the OSCE.

Lasting peace and stability in the region can be achieved only by respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of the Republic of Artsakh. For this purpose the Armenians of Artsakh began their liberation struggle in 1988 and are ready to continue it with determination to achieve the ultimate goal."