Monday, May 29 2017 11:16

ArmInfo.Victories of May, 1918 opened a new and glorious page in the millennia-long history of the Armenian nation. In the battles of Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan, and  Karakilisa our forefathers had earned our right to live." Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan stated on his speech to Armenian nation in Sardarapat on the occasion of Republic Day on May 28.

"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." Noted the head of  the state, stressing that 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 the May 28, 1918, there would be  no Soviet Armenia, and there would not be the present 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 the May 28th. 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." He stated, stressing that 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." President said. 

The Sardarapat battle took place on May 21-28, 1918 between Armenian  regular military units and militiamen, on the one hand, and Turkish  troops that invaded Eastern Armenia, on the other, near the  Sardarapat railway station. Today, the battle is considered not only  as a stoppage of the Turkish troops to Armenia, but also preventing  the complete destruction of the Armenian people. According to the  British historian Christopher Walker, if the Armenians lost the  battle, "it is entirely possible that the word Armenia would be  preserved only as a historical term."