Raffi Hovhannisyan’s public address

Karabakhon the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the movementin:w:

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We vow ունենք՝ always to: light, ohand is going we are our along the way…
Hovhannes Tumanyan

Dear compatriots, friends, colleagues.

February is the month of the awakening of the Armenian people in our recent historyis,
a symbol of Armenian will and endurancethe: 1988-in: in February was, that nationally leg we came out to break the yoke of the stranger, to conquer
our right to build our own future on our own land, to live freely and sovereignly.
It was in FebruaryStepanakerteand Of Yerevanthe streets and the squares overflowinghundreds of thousandspeople clearrealized the saintexistwithout struggle
the imperative that has matured a long time ago and the impossibility of taking a step back from it.

The flame of the national liberation movement was ignited by the “spark” of February 12, Hadrut
from the spontaneous rally started in the village, the participants of which demanded
The reunification of Artsakh with Armenia.

In:the eventwas groundbreakingno only Artsakh people for: P:goditpredetermined third
in the millenniumArmenian: of the people of progressfurther the path: And especially:February 20-in:after Жpastoral deputiesRegion:werecouncil emergency session decision կայացրեց՝ applying Azerbaijan Supreme to the council, his from the composition out to come, and:of Armenia Supreme խորհրդին՝ her make up to include regarding, and USSRcentral authorities՝ that the request to satisfy with a call:

It certainly wasn’t easy. Their fair trial
Azerbaijan even followed the most civilized step of the pursuing Artsakh people
the wave of violence by the authorities – gross violation of the rights of Armenian citizens,
in the form of demographic expansion, economic blockade and other atrocities.
Sumgait, Baku, Kirovabad, Shamkhor, which are hundreds of kilometers away from Nagorno-Karabakh
In the cities and other Armenian-populated settlements, the Azeris flocked wildly
the crowd. Hundreds of Armenians became victims of the mass riots of those days
residents, around 450 thousand were forced to leave their places of permanent residence.

To silence Artsakh’s liberating voice
in the manuals, the adversary in the future, especially the war he unleashed
years, had not only behind himMoscow
military sponsorship, but alsopositions brought Turkish specialists, mercenaryof the Taliban and the practical support of the Chechens. Despite this,
Devotees of the Motherland the will remained until the endunbreakable Stayed and
won.

The main result of Artsakh diplomacy was that our people
emerged from the harsh examination of dignity and national identity. How?
noted the poet from Artsakh, “memories from the heroic days of February
the elders are left, the lessons are for the new generations.” Yes, it is very important to remember and
learning the lessons of history rather than contesting the honor of being first. Respect
and all those who contributed their money to the nation’s great existence deserve to be humbled
in victory. Thanks to the ordinary heroes of the Movement.

88 has deep advice. It tells us faithfully
to rest their lives on the altar of the struggle for freedom and welfare of generations
in the memory of the Armenians, to be the master of one’s own destiny and the guardian of the ancestral heritage.
There is a saying: “Armenians cannot be defeated, they can only be divided.” of 88
the charges, inspiration and curve should be kept like the light of the eye and in the same spirit
with the potential to direct the improvement of the quality of the internal managers of the newly independent Armenian state
establishment and construction.

Indeed, patriotism implies more than emotion
a cold, self-critical view. With this awareness, it is necessary to record that if
With the consistent power of the movement, we liberated the eastern border of our Motherland.
however, the Armenian man remained unfree in his own land. Contradictory phenomena: injustice,
injustice, false elections, political persecution, violence,
corruption, increasing emigration and poverty, continued to accompany free,
citizens living in our declared independent country.

There is spatial value saved for generations, but
The qualitative part of the dignity of Armenians and the nation remains open, that’s why
is an unrealized part of the Movement. To restore the deficit, he said:
In order to complete the council of the movement, it is very necessary that the Armenian people
to be liberated, to breathe fully on his own land. This is the very meaning of the Motherland, from which it is born
takes real patriotism.

Ahead of us difficult way is war is expected
in the midst of peace, we have a still unresolved nationwideproblems, external and internal significant challenges.
The reawakening of 88 is even more imperative today. M:about we are able overcome
any obstacle, with a collective will to achieve complete victory and create our own
Armenia of dreams and rights.

At the very end, let’s turn again to the wise Lorets
To “Vow”

We passed we are blood seas, sword we are seen and sample,
Our the forehead against we are did
to the little ones opposite։

But is going we are we awesome
beats under evil good luck,
Our the eyes always to: up to the light our covenant։

So, forward, towards the light.

February 24, 2018

Yerevan