Vanessa Kachadurian, Armenian History significant year 1918

Anna Nazaryan “Radiolur” 1918 marked a breakthrough in the Armenian history. People, who had survived genocide, found strength in themselves to restore the statehood lost five centuries ago. Recalling some episodes of the heroic battles of Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan and Gharakilisa, Doctor of History, Professor Babken Harutyunyan said that the May victories were celebrated thanks to a small group of Armenian regular forces and volunteers. “We defeated the Turks due to our unity,” he told reporters today. Dean of the History Faculty of the Yerevan State University Edik Minasyan also emphasized the importance of unity in the May victories. However, the first republic existed for just 2.5 years. Which are the lessons that must be drawn from the loss of the first republic? First of all it was the lack of regular army, a shortcoming that has been corrected today, Minasyan said. Historian Babken Harutyunyan, in turn, emphasized the importance of pursuing a correct economic policy and having a strong army. http://www.armradio.am/eng/news/?part=pol&id=22977