On the occasion of the 92nd anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia, the Henaran press club hosted Ararat TV general director Meruzhan Ter-Gulanyan and sculptor Levon Tokmajyan. Mr. Tokmajyan stated that the current Republic of Armenia would not have been possible if it were not for the First Republic.  Although it was short-lived, the First Republic saved Armenia from fragmentation.  “That is why our independence today is very important for our survival and our future.  But were we expecting the independence and freedom that we have today?  Freedom does not mean anarchy.” Mr. Ter-Gulanyan said that statehood was of supreme value to any nation.  “Our First Republic, no matter how short-lived, was a question of our people’s salvation and dignity.  It laid the foundation for our future independence.  And Armenians now had an address – the Republic of Armenia.” Mr. Ter-Gulanyan said that the Second Republic, although it was under Soviet rule, helped consolidate our nation so that the Third Republic could become a reality. “It takes years for a nation’s culture to absorb and reflect all that is happening in that nation’s history.  The First Republic and the early twentieth century are reflected in our culture through works like Yeghishe Charents’ Yerkir Nairi and Khmbapet Shavarsh as well as movies such as The Saroyan Brothers, The Band Boys and Zangezur. Of course, they were made by the Communists, so the Red Army would always feature in the end, but they are about the First Republic.” The Second Republic has also been covered by a number of different works of literature.  The Third Republic, in Mr. Ter-Gulanyan’s opinion, has not yet been embraced by our culture.  The reason is that we are still fresh from the nineties and remember those cold and dark years and the large numbers of people who emigrated.  “But all that will be consolidated in our culture; it will be embraced, so that it can be reflected as part of our culture.  It will happen.  We are a strong nation and 28 May is a very important day for us,” he said.