Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan congratulated Artsakh on  Independence Day

ArmInfo.September 2 is a pan-Armenian holiday, a symbol of national solidarity that every year rallies Armenians worldwide around its glorious victory and dignity.   At the same time, it is a subject of our daily reflections on Artsakh  as we have spared no effort for the sake of its empowerment. This is  stated in the congratulatory message of the third President of  Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the  Declaration of Independence of Karabakh.

He added there are many testimonies of pan-Armenian care and love in  Artsakh that were created over the past three decades: roads,  schools, kindergartens, cultural centers, churches, apartments...   "And this was made possible owing to the funds collected by our  compatriots at home and abroad with the earnest desire to see a free  and independent Artsakh as early as possible.

"28 years ago, Artsakh chose its steady course and made that  irrevocable decision, sensing in its back the strength of the unity  of thousands of Armenians. In no case should we allow a disruption of  pan-Armenian unity in the Artsakh issue. Today it is also dangerous,  as it could be during the years of the liberation struggle, and not  realizing this means endangering the Motherland for the sake of  momentary personal, political or other passing interests ",  Sargsyan  said.

At the same time, he added that today, he would like to congratulate  his combat friends, including the incumbent president of the Republic  of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan and Artsakh's previous leaders. "  Distinguished President Sahakyan, please forward my congratulations  to the Speaker of the Artsakh National Assembly, the State Minister,  to all those who have made a valuable contribution to the  establishment and development of the Republic of Artsakh; to all  those heroic boys who risked their lives in the battlefield defending  their legitimate right to free and independent life in their historic  homeland.  Glory to them! I bow down to the glorious memory of our  fallen heroes, since only those nations who value their heroes can  hope for future victories. And today, our children perform their duty  at the state border of Artsakh with the same devotion, defending the  independence gained at the cost of the lives of their fathers and  grandfathers. Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan. As I have  said for years, I want to reiterate today that Artsakh will never be  part of Azerbaijan. On our national holiday, I wish Artsakh peace,  stability, prosperity and further success in its state-building  efforts," the message reads.  

The second president of Armenia and the first president of  Nagorno-Karabakh Robert Kocharyan also sent a congratulatory message  to Artsakh and President Bako Sahakyan.  In his message, Kocharyan  stressed the importance of the historic choice made by the Artsakh  people about three decades ago, and referred to the meaning of this  significant day and to President Sahakyan's special role in  strengthening Artsakh's statehood.

 "28 years ago, we made a historical choice, and made our people's  dreams come true: Artsakh, united in a single fist, declared  independence and defended it heroically with arms. I remember with  warmth the times when we had the opportunity to work together and  fight in the name of victory and the establishment of independent  statehood. On this historic day, it is necessary to give glory to all  those who, at the cost of their lives, ensured the independence of  Artsakh. Eternal memory to our war brothers who remained on the pains  of battle, "Kocharyan emphasized.

At the same time, he stated that today Artsakh is again facing  difficult challenges in the context of an unfinished war. "The events  taking place in Armenia, which are receiving some negative reflection  in Artsakh, as well as the upcoming election campaign, should not  split the people of Karabakh. The military- political leadership of  Artsakh should make every effort so that domestic political  turbulence does not in any way affect the military potential of the  country, national the unity and non-victorious spirit that has always  been inherent in Artsakh. I am sure that the victorious people and  their heroes cannot retreat before anyone, including those who sow  hatred, distorting and a story and pursuing a destructive policy of  destroying national values, " Kocharyan summed up.