Armenian soldier in front of the Sardarabad Memorial on May 28, 2017 (Photo: Defense Ministry of Armenia)

YEREVAN—Celebration of the First Republic of Armenia of 1918 took place at the Sardarabad Memorial on May 28.

President Serzh Sarkisian, accompanied by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and All Armenians, state leaders, and citizens took part in the celebration on Sunday, in honor of Republic Day.

The Armenian Defense Army participated in a traditional march.

Celebrations of the Independence Day of the First Republic of Armenia took place at the Sardarabad Memorial on May 28, 2017 (Photo: Defense Ministry of Armenia)

The Armenian officials laid flowers on the memorial, which is dedicated to the heroes who martyred during the Battle of Sardarabad.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian delivering address (Photo: Defense Ministry of Armenia)

Sarkisian’s address from the event can be read below.

Dear patriots,

I would like to congratulate everyone on Armenia’s Republic Day,

The victories of May 1918 opened a new and glorious page in the millennia-long history of the Armenian nation. In the battles of Sardarabad, Bash-Aparan, and Gharakilisa our forefathers had earned our right to live.

Those battles were the last and critical efforts of the nation, which had stood at the brink of extinction, and were called to defend the last piece of land of our historical homeland and to save the last remnants of our nation. That incredible heroic act was made jointly by our people from every walk of life, all strata of its society. They acted with exceptional unity and solidarity, with the selfless courage and adamant will. They acted on the highest level of national conscience and historic responsibility.

The newly independent Armenia was born in flames of the First World War. Every year, we repeat as the oath of allegiance a simple truth: without May 28, 1918, there would have been no Soviet Armenia, and there would not be the present-day Republic of Armenia.

Throughout the entire history of the Armenian people, we actually never had a greater period of statelessness as the period of time immediately preceding May 28. And certainly, we didn’t have a more gruesome and tragic destiny in any other period of time. That is why the reestablishment of our statehood 99 years ago is of double value and importance for us, and today it is sacred for every Armenian.

The Republic of Armenia not only brought statehood to her citizens but also human rights and freedoms, which were secured by law.

Contemporary Armenia was also born in the war flames, but this time it was the Artsakh battle. We, the citizens of today’s Armenia, are true to the promise of the First Republic.

Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakian sent a congratulatory address in connection with the day of the First Armenian Republic.

The Armenian nation has been always struggling to restore its statehood, live freely and independently on its soil, master its destiny on its own.

On May 28, the century- long struggle crowned with success. In the battles of Sardarabad, Bash-Aparan and Gharakilisa our people demonstrated unprecedented endurance, heroism and gained success, resisted the invading enemy and forced it to retreat, rescuing from destruction the last fraction of the historical homeland and its future.

The Artsakh Liberation Struggle became the continuation of those glorious heroic battles proving once again that Armenian freedom-loving spirit is unshakable and passes down from generation to generation.

Today the entire Armenian people have united and combined their efforts for the development and reinforcement of the two Armenian republics, for the secure and wealthy life of the Armenians in their own country, their homeland. It is a nationwide issue which should be solved by all of us, in the Mother Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora.