Karabakh celebrates 19th anniversary of independence

On 2 September President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh Bako Sahakyan partook at solemn events dedicated to the Day of the Artsakh Republic, according to a release by the Karabakhi presidential administration.

Mr Sahakyan visited the Memorial Complex in the capital and laid flowers to the tombs of freedom fighters perished for the independence and freedom of the their homeland and the first Chairperson of the National Assembly, Arthur Mkrtchyan.

Asked to comment on the recent developments in the conflict settlement process, Mr Sahakyan noted that Azerbaijan's efforts aimed at adopting various documents and resolutions in different international bodies only impede the negotiation process and "cannot have any impact on our position."

"The people of Artsakh made their decision on 2 September 1991, confirmed it by the 10 December 1991 referendum, defended independence and freedom of Artsakh during the imposed war and reconfirmed it once again on 10 December 2006 by adopting the Constitution," said he.

Later the president took part in at solemn ceremonies of opening the monument of Nelson Stepanyan, two-fold hero of the Soviet Union and also the Dandelion sculpture symbolizing peace.