Respected citizens of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic,
Today we celebrate nationwide the 18th anniversary of the formation of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic.
On September 2, 1991 the people of Artsakh opened a new chapter in our ancient history resolutely embarking on the hard and honorable way of building free and independent, sovereign and democratic state.
From the very first day of its formation our state was forced to solve hard problems and in the first place ensure security of the country and its citizens. Together with Armenia and the Diaspora Artsakh carried our this mission with flying colors defending state independence and further strengthening its security. Many Armenians sacrificed their lives in the defense of the Fatherland. Eternal glory to them!
After the war the state faced new challenges this time of economic nature. We had to both restore the destroyed economy and lay a firm foundation for the further development of the state. The creative will of the Armenian people as well as inexhaustible optimism and vigor of the Artsakh people made the Nagornyy Karabagh Republic carry out this in a relatively short period of time.
Today our country shows stable growth; almost all the branches of economy are developing, the living standards of the population are rising. The democratic system functioning in our state meets international norms and criteria. Artsakh is among the key factors of preserving stability in the region and its international recognition is only matter of time. The most important security guarantor of our state and people, the NKR Defense Army, is able to give a fitting rebuff to any encroachment upon its independence and security. Still, there is a lot to do and we solve issues our republic faces and further develop our country by everyday assiduous and consecutive work.
On the path of its development and state building the Nagorno Karabagh Republic follows the ideas of establishing friendly relations and peaceful existence with the neighboring states. We are confident that any dispute should be settled only by peaceful means, through direct and sincere dialog. At the same time there could be no doubts about the independence of Artsakh or even the slightest weakening of the republic's security. These unconditioned values are not subjects to any speculations.
Dear compatriots, I heartily congratulate all of us on this holiday of utmost importance and wish you peace, health and all the best.
Stepanakert, 2 Sept. 2009.
2009-09-02
