The Address of the President of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Serge Sargsyan on the Occasion of the 18th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia
Your Holiness,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Compatriots,
I cordially congratulate you on occasion of the 18th anniversary of Armenia?s independence.
This is a holiday all the generations of the Armenian nation coveted and sensed deep in their hearts. I emphasize: all the generations without exception.
No matter where the battle was fought: at the River Aratsani, in the fields of Avarayr or Dzirav, on the strongholds of Cilicia, under the walls of Van, at Sardarapat or at Shushi, we were guided by the same vision.
Regardless of whether we decorated manuscripts in monastic cells, or casted letters of Mashtots to print books and journals from Vienna to Calcutta, and from Echmiadzin to Venice, we were guided by the same vision.
No matter whether the Armenian was a successful merchant whose private fleet ranged the oceans, or a hungry and humiliated exile immolated in the Der Zor Desert, he was guided by the same vision.
No matter how much territory we occupied on the world map, and even when altogether swept away from the map, we were nevertheless guided by the same vision: the vision of Independent Armenia that epitomizes freedom, human and national dignity and, ultimately, the right and historical ability to create good and beauty.
That is what makes this holiday great, precious and sacred for us.
Dear Compatriots,
This day 18 years ago, during the all-national referendum, millions of hands reached out to ballot boxes to say ?YES?. Thereafter, we joined hands to withstand big and small hardships, we overcame and continue to overcame big and small challenges. However, the main choice is already made. From now on independence is our fortune and destiny, our onus and responsibility, our weapon and instrument, our might and right, from now on, irrevocable and eternal.
What does Armenia preach after having reemerged on the international political arena? Pure and simple concepts: peace, stability, good neighborly relations, multilateral economic and other kinds of cooperation in all spheres. We have been sufficiently patient and wise to take that approach even towards those who for years have attempted and still attempt to hinder our progress by all kinds of blockades and Armenophobic propaganda.
What does Armenia preach to its offspring all over the world after having resurrected from the genocidal hell? Pure and simple concepts: unity, collective will and effort, the state?s determination to pursue and protect the interests and goals of Armenians, filial love of and dedication to the homeland of all Armenians, and a happy possibility to build up the Armenia of our dreams by joint efforts. And Armenia says them: ?Welcome back to native home.?
What does Armenia preach to its multinational citizens after having delivered itself from the clutches of all types of tyrannies, caliphates and empires? Pure and simple concepts: liberty, democracy, a rule-of-law state, civil society, and the European system of values.
It also says that economic and other crises are transient, but homeland is everlasting. Armenia?s able and hard-working citizens also can and will overcome these obstacles on our way. We are grateful for the aid provided nowadays to Armenia, however, our century-long experience prompts us that the foundation of wellbeing is one?s own work.
What does Armenia preach to the ones who menace us with war? Pure and simple concepts: we have more than once crossed swords with great and powerful nations that once upon a time mastered the fate of the world, but nowadays are mentioned only in history textbooks. And we say: ?We want no war, but we are ready for victory?; at the same time we point out to the possibility of peaceful and political settlement of the Artsakh problem.
Dear Compatriots,
I once again congratulate all of us on occasion of the great holiday. The well-established, enhanced and virile Armenian state is now a reality.
It is a faithful and loyal to its word ally for its allies, dependable and loyal to its word partner for its partners, an opponent arguing with weighty arguments against its opponents.
But above all, it is a sunlit land inhabited by hearty people for its friends and guests.
It exists and will last as long as the sun shines, and will get powerful enough to become the embodiment of the vision our great ones from Khorenatsi to Tumanian, and from Komitas to Aram Khachaturian had.
Long live independence expressed and achieved by all-national will!
Long live the Republic of Armenia!
Source: The website of the President of Armenia
21 September 2009
http://www.president.am/events/news/eng/?id=711
Dear Friends,
We celebrate today Armenia's 18th Anniversary of Independence of 3rd Republic.
Today we face again a divided country, with a president with no popularity, a divided society both internally and externally, with extreme divisions between local and diaspora Armenians.
Armenians all around the world are becoming more and more ignorant about their country and its future.
The Armenian government soon will sign protocols with arch rival Turkey, borders perhaps will open and commerce will start. Sounds all good when we ignore the price the Armenian nation has to pay.
Yes, this young republic has achieved more then it could, has seen war, blockade and survived as a winner.
The past 10 years we have seen economical growth, we have seen more political and press freedom. Karabakh stayed ours, no concessions were made. The majority of Armenians are unhappy for different reasons.
Local Armenians want to see a sudden economical rise, booming business with opening of borders, better health care, better education, better life.
Diaspora Armenians want a corruption-free country, their place in society, the memories of Genocide kept and hope of returning one day Home.
Dear Armenians, We all have high expectations, but this is the Armenia we have!
If we want to see changes, then we all have to get involved. We have to put aside the famous inter-Armenian hatred that we have against each other.
We have to find ways to create A BETTER NATION, uniting under our tricolor, with each side accepting the other side's opinion, place in society and nation.
Being Armenian, having Armenian blood the ?link? for working together to keep our existing Armenia, get the rest of our occupied lands back, get the Armenian genocide recognized, use our exceptionally smart Armenians brains to create a Strong Armenia, both Economically and Militarily.
We do have to stop being used by other nations and believe in Our Own Strength.
Why not? At least lets try for a change.
Finally, dear Diaspora Armenians, sooner or later You will disappear in foreign lands. Thousands of your children will melt into other nations, you will stop using Armenian as mother language and eventually you are going to get lost, as many millions did in the past centuries.
The White Genocide of Armenians is happening at this moment around you.
Teach your children Armenian, return back to homeland and help to create a Better Nation, Strong Armenia.
This Armenia is also your Armenia.
Tebi Hayrenik!