Armenian political forces demonstrated solidarity during April war – Bako Sahakyan

Below is the address by Bako Sahakyan, the president of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, to the participants of the second forum of Armenian Political Parties (being held in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh’s capital).

“Respected participants,

“Ladies and gentlemen,

“I welcome all of you in Artsakh, your Homeland.

“Holding the second forum of Armenian political parties in Artsakh is significant and demanded, especially in the current period of time.

“Our political parties have an important feature: having various goals and programs, members and supporters, in fatal and decisive moments they are able to unite around national ideas in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora and solve the set issues with joint efforts.

“It was so during the April war too, when the political forces displayed a principal stance, demonstrated an exemplary unity, united the society to support Artsakh, protect the security of our people and state from the enemy’s insidious encroachments.

“The role of political parties is great in the life of democratic countries. We have established and fully functioning parties in Armenia and Artsakh.

“Our traditional parties are functioning in the Diaspora, which along with political activity are also carrying out great work towards maintaining the Armenian national identity and cementing ties with the Motherland. It provides good opportunity for the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora inter-party cooperation.

“Once again signifying the role of the parties in our political life and state-building process I want to welcome this initiative of the Republican Party of Armenia and wish all the participants of the forum an active and efficient work”.