By Adonia Agayan

YEREVAN, September 22 — On September 21, the Republic of Armenia celebrated Independence Day.

President Serge Sarkisian as well as the Armenian republic’s leadership along with thousands of citizens visited the military pantheon Yerablur and laid flowers and wreaths at the memorials of Artsakh’s heroes.

The official event devoted to the celebration of the Independence Day was held in the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex.

On the occasion of Independence Day, Sarkisian made a statement and congratulated everyone.

“I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia. The entire history of our nation is a history of struggle for freedom. That struggle was going on with variable success for centuries and millennia; at times it intensified, at times it subsided but it never stopped,” President Sarkisian said.

“The referendum, actually, was a promise that we gave to ourselves and, more importantly, to our heirs. Through the years it became clear that as a nation we have fulfilled the promise. Undoubtedly, along the way there were blunders, even serious mistakes, but never deadly ones, which could have deviated from the course or endanger the freedom and security of our state,” he said.

“Independent Armenia passed through three major economic crises – not without mistakes and failings but we were able to overcome them. We overcame them and drew some lessons. Today, we are on the road toward the economic recovery and now our task is to put economic growth on a solid foundation, with the assessment of the deficiencies in the world economic model that produced the crisis,” President Sarkisian said.

Invitations to the event were sent to the former presidents of Armenia, but neither of them was present.

People all over the country celebrated Independence Day. The streets were full of people. A pop concert took place in the Republic Square, in Yerevan. And the wonderful day concluded with a celebratory fireworks show at midnight.

Armenia’s Declaration of Independence was adopted at the first session of the Supreme Council of Armenia on August 23, 1990. This document abolished the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and proclaimed the independent Republic of Armenia.

On September 21, 1991, a referendum was held on secession from the USSR and the establishment of independent statehood. An estimated 94.9 percent of citizens voted in favor of independence.

Yerevan Report

Photo caption: President Serge Sarkisian at Yerablur