'ARMENIA'S AUTHORITIES CONSIDER THEMSELVES A SERF TO FOREIGNERS': TER-PETROSSIAN ON INDEPENDENCE
epress.am
09.22.2011
In Yerevan's central square this morning were people who not only
had nothing to do with obtaining independence, but also many of whom
fought with all they had against this independence, said Armenia's
first president and leader of the opposition Armenian National Congress
(HAK), Levon Ter-Petrossian, speaking at a HAK reception on Thursday
on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia's independence.
"They say such speeches from the stage, from television, today that
you'd think they built this independence. With this they once again
simply desecrate this sacred concept. You are a lucky generation
because very few generations in history have been able to restore
statehood and achieve independence. If you like, there have been
three, four instances in our history, not more. In the 9th century,
the Bagratuni Dynasty was able to regain independence and in the
12th century, it was the Rubinyans. In 1918, the Araratian Armenian
people succeeded in regaining independence, and the fourth [instance]
is you, is us. A thousand years later they will say, independence
was reclaimed a fourth time by this generation," said Ter-Petrossian.
Continuing, the opposition leader said that 20 years after restoring
independence, "we are almost standing before the same issue. Today
we have to reclaim our independence because those people who are
leading Armenia today deep in their hearts don't feel independent -
today they consider themselves a vassal to foreigners."
"And until Armenia is free from these ruling authorities, we will
not have full independence. So you will be made fortunate enough once
again to reclaim our independence," Ter-Petrossian concluded.
epress.am
09.22.2011
In Yerevan's central square this morning were people who not only
had nothing to do with obtaining independence, but also many of whom
fought with all they had against this independence, said Armenia's
first president and leader of the opposition Armenian National Congress
(HAK), Levon Ter-Petrossian, speaking at a HAK reception on Thursday
on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia's independence.
"They say such speeches from the stage, from television, today that
you'd think they built this independence. With this they once again
simply desecrate this sacred concept. You are a lucky generation
because very few generations in history have been able to restore
statehood and achieve independence. If you like, there have been
three, four instances in our history, not more. In the 9th century,
the Bagratuni Dynasty was able to regain independence and in the
12th century, it was the Rubinyans. In 1918, the Araratian Armenian
people succeeded in regaining independence, and the fourth [instance]
is you, is us. A thousand years later they will say, independence
was reclaimed a fourth time by this generation," said Ter-Petrossian.
Continuing, the opposition leader said that 20 years after restoring
independence, "we are almost standing before the same issue. Today
we have to reclaim our independence because those people who are
leading Armenia today deep in their hearts don't feel independent -
today they consider themselves a vassal to foreigners."
"And until Armenia is free from these ruling authorities, we will
not have full independence. So you will be made fortunate enough once
again to reclaim our independence," Ter-Petrossian concluded.