The third President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, delivered a message on the occasion of the proclamation of the independence of the Republic of Artsakh.
He emphasized that “no occupier or tyrant, no temporary defeat can shake our will to live freely, independently, peacefully, and happily on the land God has granted us, like other nations.”
“For several decades — until the power grab of 2018 — we all, together in Armenia, Artsakh, and the diaspora, celebrated this day with grandeur, joy, and pride. September 2 marked the liberation of a part of our Homeland unjustly annexed to Armenophobic Azerbaijan — a liberation for which our heroic brothers and sisters gave their lives, and to which thousands of Armenians devoted the best years of their lives.
Today, however, this once-celebratory day is observed under the shadow of ethnic cleansing, depopulation, and occupation of Artsakh as a result of Azerbaijan’s genocidal policy, and in the face of the Armenian government's complete indifference to the plight of forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians. Artsakh’s political and military leadership, along with other Armenian captives, are enduring inhumane suffering in Baku prisons under false and fabricated charges.
I believe that just as my generation succeeded in liberating our homeland and restoring justice and dignity decades after annexation — compelling peace rather than begging for it from a hateful Azerbaijan — so too shall we emerge victorious from this tragedy.
So let our grief turn into resolve, our losses fuel the struggle, and let September 2 remain not a memory of the past but an unwavering belief in a victorious future.
Yes, the Republic of Artsakh was never internationally recognized, but the issue of Artsakh has been internationally acknowledged — with mechanisms previously established to seek a just and lasting resolution.
Opportunities and grounds for applying international pressure on Azerbaijani authorities still exist, yet the current Armenian administration deliberately avoids using these tools.
We cannot silently accept the defeatist, disastrous, and loss-ridden policies of the capitulating authorities, deceitfully presented as peace. This so-called peace lacks any guarantees, while the enemy continues to impose new demands on Armenia’s capitulating leadership daily.
To the usurpers clinging to power out of fear of losing their seats, Artsakh is not a homeland but a burden; Artsakh Armenians are not compatriots but mere asylum seekers; and restoring historical justice is not a goal but a hindrance.
It is indisputable: no occupier or tyrant, no temporary setback can shake our will to live freely, independently, peacefully, and happily on our God-given land. Artsakh is a sacred part of the Armenian Homeland, and the right of Artsakh Armenians to return is inalienable and fundamental.
Glory, eternal glory to those who gave their lives for the freedom of the Homeland. Strength and fortitude to the worthy sons and daughters of our time. May God protect our Homeland,” the statement says.
