On the occasion of NKR Republic Day, Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan stated that the people of Artsakh, like other freedom-loving nations, had obtained liberty at the cost of thousands of lives. "The independence of our country has come with a very high cost and this fact behooves us to cherish and maintain our freedom and the independence of our Artsakh Republic," PM Harutyunyan declared. He added that the main task for the people of Artsakh was to develop and solidify the nation with all resources available and to strengthen its economy and democratic institutions. "We must never forget that Artsakh continues to remain the target of the enemy and others so inclined against us. Thus, we must direct all our resources to the further strengthening of the military preparedness of armed forces. We are obligated to overcome the present period, when the deepening economic crisis has created serious problems for others as well as for us," stated the NKR Prime Minister, adding that the Karabakh conflict settlement process is no guarantor of Artsakh's security.