Category: 2021

 15:57, 21 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accompanied by President Armen Sarkissian, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan, President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan and other government officials, visited the Yerablur military cemetery on the occasion of Independence Day to pay tribute to the fallen troops.

PM Pashinyan laid flowers on the graves of prime minister Vazgen Sargsyan, military commander Andranik Ozanyan, and a wreath at the memorial honoring fallen heroes, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:47, 21 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on the victory of the United Russia Party in the State Duma elections.

ARMENPRESS reports Harutyunyan stressed that the results of the voting clearly showed the high level of support and trust of the Russian society towards the strategic direction of the Russian leadership.

“Russia’s strategy is aimed at the further development of the country, strengthening its international reputation, increasing the welfare of its citizens. I am confident that the State Duma of the new convocation will continue to contribute to the expansion and deepening of traditional friendly ties between the Russian and Armenian peoples, as well as the strengthening of the security environment in our region and the establishment of lasting peace,” Harutyunyan said.

 18:06, 21 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received congratulatory messages from the Presidents and Prime Ministers of a number of foreign countries, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The congratulatory message of the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reads as follows,

‘’Dear Nikol Vovaevich,

I send my heartfelt congratulations to you and the people of your country and my best wishes on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia.

During the years of independence, your country has achieved significant achievements in the political, social and economic spheres, as well as in ensuring the well-being of its citizens.

We are sincerely happy for the achievements of the Republic of Armenia and attach great importance to the further strengthening of comprehensive cooperation between our countries. I am convinced that the high level of cooperation and mutual understanding between our friendly countries will serve as a solid basis for the progressive development and deepening  of the Armenian-Turkmen bilateral relations.

Taking this joyous opportunity, I sincerely wish you good health and happiness, and peace, progress and prosperity to the friendly people of Armenia’’.

 The congratulatory message of Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin reads as follows,

“Dear Nikol Vovaevich,

Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Armenia – Independence Day.

For Kazakhstan, Armenia is a reliable partner in the Caucasus region, with which cooperation is successfully developing in bilateral and multilateral dimensions.

The successful cooperation between our Governments within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union contributes to the further development of Eurasian integration.

Dear Nikol Vovaevich,

Taking the opportunity, I wish you good health, family well-being and further success in your responsible state activities, and peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Armenia’’.

 The congratulatory message of Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko reads as follows,

 “Dear Nikol Vovaevich,

Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia.

Friendly Armenia is developing confidently for strengthening its sovereignty and ensuring sustainable socio-economic growth.

I am convinced that the mutual commitment of the governments of our countries to constructive cooperation will continue to contribute to the activation of the Armenian-Belarusian relations, the enrichment of the bilateral business partnership with promising joint projects.

I am convinced that the mutual commitment of the Governments of our countries to constructive cooperation will continue to contribute to the activation of the Armenian-Belarusian relations and the enrichment of the bilateral business partnership with promising joint projects.

Dear Nikol Vovaevich,

I wish you good health, success in your responsible state position, as well as implementation of all the planned programs and initiatives. “

 The congratulatory message of Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh reads as follows,

‘’ On behalf of the Government of Vietnam and on my own behalf, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia.

We are pleased to see that, under your and the Government’s leadership, society – economy of Armenia has continued to develop, people’s living standards have been continuously improving.

Vietnam always looks forward to maintaining and further developing the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the Republic of Armenia, especially in term of economy, trade and investments.

On this occasion, please, accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

On the basis of the effective implementation of Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and Eurasian Economic Union, I believe that our two countries will have a basis to further boost bilateral turnover, exploit and promote the potentials of cooperation, serving the economic development and modernization in each country, meeting the demands and interests of both sides.

I am confident that, with the efforts of the Governments and peoples of the two countries, we will achieve a lot of practical results, towards the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries’’.

 19:03, 21 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov sent a congratulatory message to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence, reaffirming the high level of Armenian-Russian allied relations and the close, deep-rooted friendship between the Armenian and Russian peoples, ARMENPRESS was informed from the MFA Armenia.

‘’Dear Ararat Samvelovich, I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Armenia, the Independence Day.

Russia invariably values the allied relations with Armenia, and the close friendship of our peoples with deep historical roots.

We are happy with the success of the Armenian partners in the issues of complex development of Armenia and strengthening of its international position.

We hope that the multidimensional partnership between Moscow and Yerevan will further enhance the prosperity of the two countries.

We attach great importance to the rich dialogue between our foreign ministries; we are pleased to note that we have common position on current issues of bilateral and regional agendas, effective cooperation on international platforms, and fruitful cooperation within the framework of common integration projects.

Dear Ararat Samvelovich, I wish good health and all the best to you and the entire staff of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia’’.

 20:05, 21 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The main event dedicated to the Independence Day kicked off in the Republic Square of Yerevan. ARMENPRESS reports the event is attended by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Ministers, MPs, foreign diplomats accredited in Armenia and other high-ranking officials.  The state anthem of the Republic of Armenia was performed at the beginning of the event. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is expected to deliver a congratulatory address on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Independence.

Earlier today, high-ranking officials led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited “Yerablur” military pantheon, paid tribute to the memory of the heroes of the 44-day, four-day Artsakh wars. Later, awarding ceremony of representatives of defense, security, culture, education and other spheres took place at the Presidential Palace. During this period, the units of law enforcement agencies marched in different streets of the capital.

 20:22, 21 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech at the main event dedicated to the 30^th anniversary of the independence of Armenia at the Republic Square of Yerevan. ARMENPRESS presents the full speech of the PM.

‘’Honorable President of the Republic of Armenia, Honorable Speaker of the National Assembly, Distinguished Members of the Government, Security Council, MPs, Distinguished Representatives of the Judiciary, dear parents, relatives of our martyrs, dear attendees, let’s first honor the memory of all our martyrs who sacrificed their lives to the Motherland and its Independence with minute of silence.

Thank You.

But you are standing alive with your old and new wounds,

You are standing thoughtful, on the mysterious path of the new and old.

With a groan from the depths of your heart, you are speaking to the God

Pondering of a deeply hidden symbolism in your torments,

Pondering about the Word you will tell the world,

And you will become the country, where our spirits strive,

Motherland of hope,

Motherland of light.

These words of Hovhannes Tumanyan probably most accurately express the situation of our homeland, the Republic of Armenia, which is already 30 years old. What will we see if we look back at the 30-year history of our independent state? We will see successes and failures, we will see victories and defeats, we will see tears and joy, we will see inspiration and despair, we will see rapture and disappointment, we will see wars, both victorious and defeated.

The burden of the 44-day war in 2020 is hovering over this square, and perhaps this circumstance is the symbol of the crossroads that the great Tumanyan is talking about. How to live after this tragedy, how to look into the eyes of the children, widows, fathers and mothers of the victims, how to make their sacrifice not be considered meaningless.

This formula is perhaps our biggest task, to formulate the guideline of our life and future at this point of 30 years of independence for the coming decades of our independent state. My formulation is the following.

History has shown and proved that victory in wars has not always been victory in general, in the same way the defeat in wars has not always been defeat in general. We must transform our defeat into victory, but we must also transform our formula for victory, because history has shown that it is not always necessary to defeat others for a victory. To win means to overcome despair, to overcome hopelessness, to overcome the fate, to overcome death.

So where are our martyrs?

They fell so as Armenia can live, they fell so as Artsakh can live. And as long as Armenia lives, as long as Artsakh lives, they are alive. When the Republic of Armenia is developing, when Artsakh is developing, their sacrifices have achieved their goal, because it’s about the homeland of their children, their brothers and sisters.

And I want us to see the presence of our martyrs with us today, to see them as a symbol of life, and not of death, to make them symbol of victory over death, symbol of overcoming despair, overcoming hopelessness.

We have been discussing for a long time what kind of project we should carry out to eternalize the memory of the victims of all the Artsakh wars, symbolizing their presence, their living next to us. And we decided to establish the Park of Life in the Yerevan Botanical Garden, where trees symbolizing the aliveness and presence of all the victims of all the Artsakh wars will be planted, and the culmination of the park will be the Tree of Life, symbolizing the lives of all our martyrs sacrificed to the homeland.

It will not be a memorial, it will be a park of life, where children will run, make noise, play, young people will have fun, adults will walk and talk, and that park will be about that they fell in order all these people, Armenia and Artsakh can live. And the living Armenia, living Artsakh, peaceful and developing Armenian statehood must become the victory they created.

Here, in the heart of this bright square, wrapped in Armenian flags and guarded by the guard of honor, these trees will be moved to the botanical garden, symbolizing the beginning of a new era in the history of the Republic of Armenia, the beginning of an era of peaceful development.

Live Armenia and rise, live Artsakh and rise, for the sake of the martyrs who fell for you to rise.  

Congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia’’.

 10:15,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. President of France Emmanuel Macron congratulated in Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on the 30th anniversary of Armenia’s independence.

“Mr. President, Dear Armen,

On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia I address you and the Armenian people my wishes of happiness, prosperity and success.

I appreciate the significant path that the Armenian people have passed 30 years ago since gaining independence to create a modern and democratic state. Thus, overcoming a number of trials, your country managed to strengthen the activity of the institutions.

France and Armenia are connected with unique relations deeply rooted in history. These close and reliable friendly relations continue today as well in all areas. I hope that this connection, which is the wealth of our bilateral relations, will further deepen in different cooperation areas, such as culture, education, healthcare or economy.

France wants to play the role of peace in the region, and it is with this spirit that it stands by Armenia to help overcome the challenges it is facing a year after the bloody Nagorno Karabakh war. In this respect, France will in particular be committed in preserving the cultural and religious heritage of the region, which reflects the uniqueness and richness of the South Caucasus

And finally, we will spare no efforts to find a lasting solution to the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship and leading to the stabilization of the situation in the South Caucasus for the benefit of the development and prosperity of the region. This also supposes resumption of dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. As a Co-Chair country, France is ready to provide its support on this matter.

On this symbolic occasion, reaffirming my wishes, please accept the assurances of my highest respect”, the French President said on social media.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 10:32,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. During the September 8 Cabinet meeting the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that a decision has been made to duly mark the 30th anniversary of Independence, albeit the non-festive mood. This decision caused much controversy in the political and public arena, and some were demanding the authorities to cancel the event, particularly because the Prime Minister had said that the event would be “colorful”.

The event did take place in Yerevan’s Republic Square on September 21. The Prime Minister said that the event was dedicated first of all to the independence, security and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia and the memory of those who gave their lives for Artsakh.

ARMENPRESS talked with Vice Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan over the matter. The vision of opening an era of peace was also addressed.

ARMENPRESS – Mr. Rubinyan, the celebrating-not celebrating of Independence Day was being discussed a lot in the recent period. How would you assess yesterday’s event?

Rubinyan – I believe it was the right decision to mark the 30th anniversary of Independence this way, because after all, all our sufferings of not only these 30 years but several centuries were for independence. I think such discussions shouldn’t had taken place at all. We shouldn’t allow for any suffering, any loss to weaken our resoluteness to build a free and independent homeland. For hundreds of years our ancestors struggled for us today to be able to have this day, and to celebrate it, and I think yesterday’s event was humble, tasteful and appropriate.

ARMENPRESS – There is a lot of talk now about opening an era of peace, but we constantly see incidents which question as to what extent this is possible, for example the latest incident which took place with two residents of Kasakh near Vorotan.

Rubinyan – Indeed, unfortunately during this period we’ve witnessed numerous destructive statements and actions, which force us to think that opening an era of peaceful development is unrealistic. But I think we must have strong nerves and patiently advance our agenda based on our state interests. In this context perhaps we should try to give significance also to small positive steps. Let’s take the incident you mentioned. It is a negative fact that the Azerbaijani military or law enforcement agencies detained our lost citizens. But it was positive that practically after one and a half day Azerbaijan repatriated them, moreover, they [repatriated citizens] themselves testified that they haven’t been ill-treated in any way during their time in Azerbaijan. We hope that with such continuous steps an opportunity will be created to move forward with the agenda of peace.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 10:58,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed the situation in Nagorno Karabakh during their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, a senior official of the State Department told reporters.

The meeting lasted for about an hour.

“They discussed Afghanistan at length.  They also talked about Syria, and they had a relatively long conversation about the Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh”, the State Department official said.

“The U.S. has tried to be helpful in supporting a peace and reconciliation conversation between the two of them.  We participated in a swap of – we midwifed a swap of some demining maps that the Armenians turned over to the Azerbaijanis in the disputed territory for the release of some detainees.

So the question now becomes whether, with U.S. support, with other Minsk Group countries’ support, with Turkey’s support, we can do more to facilitate a de-escalation of tensions between the two, both along the border, with regard to remaining detainees, with regard to remaining mines, and then take some – see them – help them take some small steps which might lay the path towards a larger peace and reconciliation process.

So the Secretary made clear to Turkey, which has been very much involved in this and is a neighbor, that we are prepared to be helpful if we can be.  We are also at a level below the Secretary having bilateral meetings with the Armenians and the Azerbaijanis this week and making the same offer there”, he said.

 12:01,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. US Senator Bob Menendez has addressed a video message congratulating Armenia on the Independence Day, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

The message says:

“It is an honor to be asked to address the Embassy of Armenia on this 30th Anniversary of Armenia’s Independence Day.

I understand that this message will be shared with the people of Armenia, so I’d like to speak to you directly.

I’d like to extend my best wishes as you observe this important milestone in your nation’s history, one made even more meaningful by the generations of Armenians who longed to see their vision of an independent Armenia realized.

It has been a long and arduous path for the people of Armenia as you struggle for freedom. You first bravely asserted your right to self-determination when the Armenian National Council declared independence in 1918, not long after Armenians joined together to resist the atrocities committed by the Ottoman Empire.

During the years of Soviet rule, you remembered the ideals that you set forth in establishing the First Republic of Armenia, a source of hope and you could once again secure a free and democratic homeland for your people.

You then voted overwhelmingly for independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, establishing a sovereign state that I am proud to stand by today as a partner and a friend. Armenians understand the importance of this history in attaining the long-sought goal of a homeland of your own.

I too believe in the importance of understanding our past as a means to inform the future. That is why I fought for many years to recognize the truth of the Armenian genocide a part of the Armenian experience denied by the descendants of those who perpetrated it.

After numerous attempts to overcome obstruction by my colleagues seeking too obscure the truth, I finally overcame this obstacle in the Senate in 2019. We recognize and in doing so, honored the victims of this tragic chapter in Armenian history. We declared “We remember” I was gratified when President Biden joined me in acknowledging the past earlier this year on Armenian Remembrance Day.

Here in the United States, we value immensely the contributions made by Armenian- Americans, with who we join in celebrating Armenian Independence Day.

In my home state of New Jersey, we are privileged to have a strong Armenian American community whose contributions I am immensely grateful for. The United States honors the robust participation of Armenian-Americans in all facets of our society and benefits from the rich culture that they share.

The United States values its relationship with Armenia, one that is founded on mutual respect and shared ideals.

On this Independence Day I want to thank you, the Armenian people for your enduring friendship.

Thank you, God bless you and happy Independence Day”.