Tonight, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Republic, President Serzh Sargsyan and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan attended the Prayer for the Republic at Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan.
The ceremony was presided over by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, participated in the liturgy.
Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev is in a hotel of Turkish Izmir under medical surveillance, Anadolu Agency reports.
Because of health problems, the Kyrgyz leader had to cancel a working trip to New York, where he was due to have taken part in debates at a session of the UN General Assembly.
He felt unwell at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, where he made a stopover on the way to the US. He had a medical exam right at the airport, and Turkish medics said the president had symptoms of heart problems necessitating a thorough medical examination.
By the Presidential degree, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence a group of individuals were bestowed high state awards – orders and medals, for their contribution to the state building, strengthening of defensibleness and security, upholding of law and order, development of the economy, strengthening of Armenia-Spyurk relations and contribution to the preservation of the Armenian identity, momentous achievements in the areas of science, education, health care, culture, and arts. Awarded were also honorary and military titles.
Today, at the award ceremony, which took place at the Presidential Palace, Serzh Sargsyan handed the awards to the individuals who have registered considerable achievements in different areas. The President of Armenia congratulated all awardees on the occasion of Independence Day and receiving awards, and wished them all the best.
Congratulatory speech by President Serzh Sargsyan at the award ceremony
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. This great holiday suggests also making a glance back, reckoning over and assessing the journey we’ve made, its momentous milestones. Almost from scratch, we created new state, public, and political institutions. On each intersection of this difficult and honorable road and at each zigzag were standing people – devotees and personalities. They were standing at the origins of our statehood and until now they have their authoritative voice in our life.
Today we recognize them and pay tribute.
Dear Awardees,
I cordially congratulate you on receiving Fatherland’s high awards. You are different and your activities are different too – a military serviceman, an author, a scientist, a public, a state, and a political figure. However you all, we all are fulfilling one common task. Your work and line of conduct, your activities have already earned you our people’s esteem. Your stance, composure, and opinion about the problems we face and ways to solve them are important and have their impact on our society.
These days, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia, we are handing awards to the individuals who have been bearing great historic responsibility, and they do it with honor, with great dedication. We are awarding the individuals who have long ago become symbols. We also decorate individuals who have made a considerable input to different areas of our society’s life¸ young people who have already brought their important contribution to the development of our country. Distinguished Attendees, you all represent people who are being awarded today. We are happy and proud that you are with us, that you have your unique place, role, and also opinion.
Dear Awardees,
On behalf of the Republic of Armenia and my own behalf I congratulate you. Thank you for being what you are. I wish you excellent health, long years, and unbound energy in all your undertakings because you have been doing very gratifying work for our people, and I am confident will continue to do everything possible. You will do it for Armenia. Thank you, and once again my congratulations.
Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian participated in the High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to Address Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants. The Minister’s full speech is provided below:
Honorable Mr. President,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The convening of this meeting at such a high level indicates the growing prominence of the problem of migrants and refugees on the global agenda, including within the UN system and the strong determination to tackle it.
Armenia has been facing the challenges relating to refugee hosting for almost 3 decades. In the late 80s and beginning of 90s Armenians were massacred and expelled from their homes in Azerbaijan and found refuge in Armenia. This year again, in early April Azerbaijan unleashed another large-scale military offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh that resulted in a number of casualties among civilians and another wave of displacement.
In this context we would like to stress the significance of addressing the root causes of large movements of people through the prevention of conflicts and crisis situations, peaceful settlement of disputes and achievement of long-term political solutions. Likewise, we would like to highlight the importance of providing equal, prompt and unhindered access to international humanitarian assistance for refugees and displaced persons in all affected parts of the world, without distinction to their current political status.
Mr. President,
Armenia is deeply concerned by the situation in our immediate neighborhood – the Middle East. On numerous occasions Armenia has condemned the crimes committed by DAESH and other terrorist groups, which threaten the people of the region and beyond. The war in Syria has a devastating impact on its civilian population, including national and religious minorities who face existential threats due to identity based crimes perpetrated by terrorists and foreign fighters.
The violence in the Middle East has not bypassed Syrian Armenians, many of whom lost their lives in terrorist attacks. The Armenian settlements, churches, schools and cultural institutions were destroyed. One hundred years ago Armenian refugees found shelter in many Arab countries after the Armenian Genocide. Today thousands of Armenians, together with other people of the Middle East, again are forced to abandon their places of residence. From Syria alone more than 20 thousand Armenians found refuge in Armenia, making our country the third largest recipient of Syrian refugees in Europe on per capita basis. Therefore, we have first-hand knowledge about what it means to be a refugee and to host refugees.
The challenges of receiving, accommodating and integrating refugees from Syria are high on the agenda of the Armenian Government. We have been offering a variety of protection options of accelerated asylum procedures, facilitated provision of residence permits and naturalization. The State supports them in setting up businesses, provides durable housing, free medical assistance and scholarships.
Armenia is committed to making its utmost to address the issues of Syrian refugees, however no State can manage such large movements on its own. We believe that greater international cooperation is needed to assist host countries. To this end, we welcome the adoption of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants and believe that the full implementation of our collective commitments, particularly those referring to a more equitable sharing of the burden and responsibility, could make a real difference for the benefit of refugees.
Thank you.
– The Andean Parliament, a legislative body composed of representatives of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile, approved on September 17 a recognizing the “Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the authorities of the Ottoman Empire between the years 1915-1923” and condemning “any policy of denialwith respect to genocide and crimes against humanity suffered by the Armenian nation.”
The resolution, presented by Pedro de la Cruz, representative of Ecuador, and approved unanimously at a meeting of the organization in Montevideo, expresses its solidarity with the Armenian people and communities of the diaspora, while “urging” the international community to “acknowledge this historical fact as an unconditional support for truth and justice and as a form of rejection of such acts that shame all humanity.”
The Andean Parliament is the “governing body and representative of the peoples of the Andean Community,” according to a constitutive treaty of October 25, 1979. Its work focuses on the “parliamentary management, policy development and popular representation on issues related the Andean integration process such as education, mobility, migration, social and labor rights, energy, environment and climate change, coexistence and security, food security and sovereignty, competitiveness and entrepreneurship, among others.”
On behalf of the European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA), I extend my warmest congratulations to the Armenian people as it celebrates the 25th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, on September 21st.
On this special day, I reaffirm EuFoA’s unwavering and steadfast commitments to strengthen Armenia’s independence, and to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Armenia in their quest for democracy, justice and prosperity, and their legitimate aspirations for peace and security.
As an organisation seeking to support integration and build bridges between Armenia and Europe, EuFoA congratulates the citizens and leaders of Armenia on their achievements over the past quarter century, and wishes them success on their way to build a fairer, safer and more prosperous society, in cooperation with their European friends.
Long live Armenia and the Armenian nation!
All major political forces have halted the election campaign after the death of the son of a candidate running for Gyumri Mayor’s Office.
Arshak Grigoryna, the son of Vardevan Grigorian from Prosperous Armenia Party, was admitted to Gyumri Medical Center with a gunshot wound in the head at about 13:20 today.
The investigation has revealed that the young man was wounded as a result of gunshot in the basement of their house.
Criminal case has been launched under Articles 110.1 (Causing somebody to commit suicide or make an attempt at a suicide by indirect willfulness or by negligence, by means of threat, cruel treatment or regular humiliation of one’s dignity) and 235.1 (Illegal procurement, transportation, keeping or carrying of weapons, explosives or explosive devices, except smoothbore long-barrel hunting guns, ammunition) of the Criminal Code.
On September 19, while paying a working visit to New York, Edward Nalbandian, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, had a meeting with Sebastian Kurz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria.
Edward Nalbandian and Sebastian Kurz exchanged views on different issues of bilateral relations, discussed ways of expanding cooperation and strengthening collaboration within the framework of international organizations.
Within the context of preparation works of Austria’s chairmanship at the OSCE, Sebastian Kurz presented to Edward Nalbandian the priorities of the Austrian chairmanship and the steps to be undertaken for their implementation.
Upon the request of the Foreign Minister of Austria, Edward Nalbandian briefed on the efforts exerted by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and Armenia towards the advancement of the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
President Serzh Sargsyan has signed a decree appointing members of government.
David Harutyunyan has been appointed as Head of Government Staff.
Ashot Manukyan has been appointed Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
Ignaty Arakelyan has been appointed Minister of Agriculture.
Vahan Martirosyan has been appointed Minister of Transport and Communication.
Vardan Aramyan has been appointed Minister of Finance.
Vache Gabrielyan will retain his post as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of International Integration and Reforms.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, Acting Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces visited the Yerablur Pantheon today to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom and independence of the Motherland. They were accompanied by the senior leadership of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.