I'll Be The First Soldier
Azat Artsakh - Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
8 Sept 04
On the occasion of the Independence Day of NKR the public organization
of the disabled azatamartiks "Vita" organized a meeting to which
members of the National Assembly Ararat Petrossian and Maxim Mirzoyan
were invited too. Not having their office the chairman of the public
organization Arevik Petrossian invited the members of "Vita"
to her home. The moods of the disabled could not be described as
festive. Perhaps they remembered details from their life during the
war, or maybe problems of everyday life. One thing is certain that
each of them dreams of living in a free, independent and peaceful
fatherland. They are conscious that the problem of Karabakh has long
ago been moved from the military arena to the sphere of diplomacy. And
the fair settlement of the problem is conditioned by the elimination of
the problems hindering the regular activity of political and public
structures of both the Republic of Armenia and Nagorni Karabakh,
and a joint and determined position of the people. The azatamartiks
proved by their actions that Artsakh is an Armenian territory, and
the land of the ancestors belongs to those who lived and continue
living on this land. Congratulating the disabled azatamartiks,
Arevik Petrossian mentioned that in 13 years NKR achieved all the
attributes of state. Along with the state political structures a
stable public sphere was formed in Karabakh. As to the recent
elections to the municipalities, I must say that all the conditions
are present in Karabakh for building a democratic state and a civil
society, emphasized the chairman of the organization. Touching
upon the problems of the organization, which is the solution of
the social problems of the azatamartiks, the problem of office and
transport, she mentioned that they rely upon the government of the
country and hope they will do everything for the protection of the
rights of the azatamartiks. According to member of parliament Ararat
Gevorkian, he had a dual feeling on the Day of Independence. "We
owe to these men for the independence of our statehood. At the same
time I feel pain and pity for the thing that many of the disabled
azatamartiks live in extremely hard social conditions. I would like
our government to provide more support to the disabled, the families of
killed azatamartiks," mentioned Ararat Petrossian adding that our
people live in a country where war may break out at any time. "
Independence is a great victory but not a final one. Our people
are at the tenuous borderline between war and peace. Our dream is
to live in a free and peaceful fatherland. Let there be no war ever
and the number of the disabled people do not multiply," said the
member of parliament. Disabled soldier Edward Andrian said, the fact
of four members of "Vita" receiving treatment abroad speaks
about the willingness of the government. "The traces of war have
been erased in Stepanakert, the town has been restored, prospered and
become beautiful. I think in the course of time the quality of life
of the people who stood up for their rights in 1988 and assured the
entire world that their land is Armenian, will rise. Everyone must be
master of their fate and no one has the right to rule us," said
Andrian adding that in case Azerbaijan resumes military actions, it
will have great losses because the Karabakh army is strong and ready to
counterattack the enemy. "If war breaks out, I'll be the first
soldier of my country," said azatamartik Armen Shahnazarian. Armen
is from the village Chartar. He was wounded in 1994, and his elder
brother was killed in 1993. "I want Karabakh become a rich country
for us to be able to provide well-being of our families. Several
of my acquaintances left Karabakh for Russia. I will never leave the
fatherland, maybe if I have the possibility I will leave abroad and get
treatment. But then I'll come back. This is our land, we liberated
it and we must look after it. My children will grow here. I repeat,
if, God forbid, war resumes in our wonderful country, I will be the
first soldier of my country,"
NVARD OHANJANIAN. 08-09-2004
Azat Artsakh - Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
8 Sept 04
On the occasion of the Independence Day of NKR the public organization
of the disabled azatamartiks "Vita" organized a meeting to which
members of the National Assembly Ararat Petrossian and Maxim Mirzoyan
were invited too. Not having their office the chairman of the public
organization Arevik Petrossian invited the members of "Vita"
to her home. The moods of the disabled could not be described as
festive. Perhaps they remembered details from their life during the
war, or maybe problems of everyday life. One thing is certain that
each of them dreams of living in a free, independent and peaceful
fatherland. They are conscious that the problem of Karabakh has long
ago been moved from the military arena to the sphere of diplomacy. And
the fair settlement of the problem is conditioned by the elimination of
the problems hindering the regular activity of political and public
structures of both the Republic of Armenia and Nagorni Karabakh,
and a joint and determined position of the people. The azatamartiks
proved by their actions that Artsakh is an Armenian territory, and
the land of the ancestors belongs to those who lived and continue
living on this land. Congratulating the disabled azatamartiks,
Arevik Petrossian mentioned that in 13 years NKR achieved all the
attributes of state. Along with the state political structures a
stable public sphere was formed in Karabakh. As to the recent
elections to the municipalities, I must say that all the conditions
are present in Karabakh for building a democratic state and a civil
society, emphasized the chairman of the organization. Touching
upon the problems of the organization, which is the solution of
the social problems of the azatamartiks, the problem of office and
transport, she mentioned that they rely upon the government of the
country and hope they will do everything for the protection of the
rights of the azatamartiks. According to member of parliament Ararat
Gevorkian, he had a dual feeling on the Day of Independence. "We
owe to these men for the independence of our statehood. At the same
time I feel pain and pity for the thing that many of the disabled
azatamartiks live in extremely hard social conditions. I would like
our government to provide more support to the disabled, the families of
killed azatamartiks," mentioned Ararat Petrossian adding that our
people live in a country where war may break out at any time. "
Independence is a great victory but not a final one. Our people
are at the tenuous borderline between war and peace. Our dream is
to live in a free and peaceful fatherland. Let there be no war ever
and the number of the disabled people do not multiply," said the
member of parliament. Disabled soldier Edward Andrian said, the fact
of four members of "Vita" receiving treatment abroad speaks
about the willingness of the government. "The traces of war have
been erased in Stepanakert, the town has been restored, prospered and
become beautiful. I think in the course of time the quality of life
of the people who stood up for their rights in 1988 and assured the
entire world that their land is Armenian, will rise. Everyone must be
master of their fate and no one has the right to rule us," said
Andrian adding that in case Azerbaijan resumes military actions, it
will have great losses because the Karabakh army is strong and ready to
counterattack the enemy. "If war breaks out, I'll be the first
soldier of my country," said azatamartik Armen Shahnazarian. Armen
is from the village Chartar. He was wounded in 1994, and his elder
brother was killed in 1993. "I want Karabakh become a rich country
for us to be able to provide well-being of our families. Several
of my acquaintances left Karabakh for Russia. I will never leave the
fatherland, maybe if I have the possibility I will leave abroad and get
treatment. But then I'll come back. This is our land, we liberated
it and we must look after it. My children will grow here. I repeat,
if, God forbid, war resumes in our wonderful country, I will be the
first soldier of my country,"
NVARD OHANJANIAN. 08-09-2004