STEPANAKERT (ANIS)–The Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh celebrated the sixth anniversary of the republic’s independence–Tuesday.
The event was marked with numerous festivities in the capital Stepanakert and throughout the country.
Officials of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic–accompanied by honorary guests gathered at the Memorial Auditorium at 11 a.m. Among the guests were newly-elected president Arkady Ghoukassian–Armenian Prime Minister Robert Kocharian–Speaker of the National Assembly Arthur Tovmassian–Prime Minister Leonard Petrossian–and Defense Minister Samvel Babayan.
Representatives of the Karabakh government–the Defense and Interior Ministries–and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation placed floral wreaths at the memorial in honor of those martyred in the national liberation struggle of Karabakh. ARF representatives also placed wreaths at the burial tomb of Artur Mkrtchian–first president of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Cultural activities–including performances by famous Armenian and Russian artists–were held in the afternoon.
A dinner banquet was hosted by the Nagorno-Karabakh government.
The daylong celebration concluded with fireworks.