SOS Artsakh: Summary of the main speeches delivered on Freedom Square
Vazgen Manukyan: Rare are the cases when 120,000 people,
including children and elderly people, withstand a siege and do not surrender
for the sake of their homeland
Azerbaijan’s plan is to separate Artsakh from Armenia, to
engulf Artsakh and then Armenia. Former Prime Minister of Armenia, Member of
Karabakh Committee Vazgen Manukyan said this.
According to him, this proves that we cannot solve our
problems separately.
“This situation will persist if we try to solve the
problems of Armenia or those of Artsakh separately. They are interrelated and
will cease to exist if separated from each other.
You are making history now as rare are the cases when
120,000 people, including children and elderly people, withstand a siege and do
not surrender for the sake of their homeland,” Manukyan said.
Tigran Abrahamyan: The internal security of Artsakh must be
ensured at all costs; if need be, the harshest measures must be taken
The people of Artsakh have gone through appalling hardships;
they are facing these hardships today as well. However, they need to be certain
that — however grave the situation is — they are on the right track, that they
are led by a man of integrity, who is ready to go first. NA MP Tigran
Abrahamyan said this addressing the people of Artsakh.
According to Abrahamyan, the internal security of Artsakh
must be ensured at all costs; if need be, the harshest measures must be taken.
This will lay a sound foundation for external security.
“There is no room for power struggle in our reality.
This practice should be banned. Position implies neither money, nor well-being;
especially in Artsakh, position constitutes a sacred duty,” Abrahamyan
said.
Tevan Poshosyan: The security of this square starts from Akna-Stepanakert road
The security of this square starts from Akna-Stepanakert
road. Political scientist Tevan Poghosyan said this, addressing the people
gathered in Freedom Square.
“If only everyone had the realization of this. In that
case, we would be able to understand the meaning of our national hero Avo’s
words.
According to Poghosyan, we are facing this situation as we
are not united.
“My dears, you are waging yet another struggle; by living
there in Artsakh, by putting up with the famine, you show us that nothing is
more important than our ancestors’ home, their land that they have bequeathed
to us; we have to preserve it all.
Today, Artsakh is fighting for our dignity; we must all tell
the people of Artsakh that the decision that they will take will lead us in our
struggle. We must stand shoulder to shoulder, we must struggle together,” Tevan
Poshosyan said, addressing the people of Artsakh.
Avetik Chalabyan: The one ceding Artsakh today, will cede
Freedom square tomorrow
The one ceding Artsakh today, will cede Armenia tomorrow; he
will cede this square tomorrow. Coordinator of the Hayakve initiative Avetik
Chalabyan said this.
According to him, there are people in Armenia now, whose
purpose in life is a morsel of bread.
“There are people who are ready to sacrifice our
homeland, our Artsakh, our dignity, the blood of our soldiers who laid down
their lives, our history just for a morsel of bread, for asphalt, for holding
their positions. And these people are the pillar of strength of the current
authorities,” Chalabyan said.
Archbishop Bagrat: The decision whether to fly
high or to crawl around lies in our hands
Primate of the Diocese of Tavush Archbishop Bagrat
Galstanyan attended the nationwide rally organized by the Opposition as well.
Archbishop Bagrat began his speech with a
prayer.
“The Armenian Apostolic Church states that Artsakh’s right
to self-determination and the exercise of that right are inalienable and
non-negotiable. Today, the people of Artsakh prove that it is us who create our
reality and not the reverse; our reality is what we are.
The decision whether to give life or to take life lies in
our hands. The decision whether to fly high or to crawl around lies in our
hands. Misery lies in store for a miserable nation.
Victory lies in store for a strong, powerful, pious, fearless
and struggling nation,” he noted.
Serzh Sargsyan: Let us see whose wish will come true —
Pahsinyan’s or ours
Pashinyan does not want to resign, but we want him to
resign. Let us see whose wish will come true. Third President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan said this to journalists in Freedom Square.
In response to the question whether nonstop protests may be
staged, Serzh Sargsyan said that everything is possible.
“I am glad to hear that Charles Michel expects the
people of Artsakh to be courageous again; the people of Artsakh will not let
him down. But maybe he implies another thing with regard to courage?”
Serzh Sargsyan said in response to the question about the European Council
president’s statement.
The nationwide rally organized by the Opposition is being
held in Freedom Square now. The second and the third presidents of Armenia are
taking part in the rally as well.
Video here:
