PRESS RELEASE
June 1, 2005

Ambassador Markarian Presents His Credentials to President George W. Bush

On May 26, 2005, Ambassador of Armenia Tatoul Markarian presented his Letter of Credence to President George W. Bush, accrediting him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States. During the ceremony, President Bush and Ambassador Markarian exchanged remarks, in accordance with the established tradition.

In his remarks, Ambassador Markarian noted the strength of our bilateral relations and the solid base on which they are founded, including common interests and shared values. Our common agenda covers the entire spectrum of political, economic, military and security cooperation, the Armenian Ambassador noted. He expressed Armenia’s great appreciation for the enormous political, economic, and humanitarian support that the United States extended from the early years of Armenia’s independence. The Ambassador expressed the determination of Armenia to further enhance the already high level of cooperation and partnership with the United States in order to meet the global challenges facing both our nations and the international community in the twenty-first century.

In his reply, President Bush stated that the United States deeply valued its friendship with Armenia, noting that our countries are bound together by a unique history. President Bush stated that since Armenia became independent in 1991, our countries worked together toward the creation of democratic institutions and a growing economy so that Armenia could rebuild after the devastation of the 1988 earthquake, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the devastation wrought by the Nagorno-Karabakh war with neighboring Azerbaijan. Armenia has made such progress in the last 15 years that it is eligible for Millennium Challenge Account assistance, noted the President.

The President’s remarks stated that he truly appreciated the assistance that Armenia had rendered in the Global War on Terrorism and its deployment of forces to Iraq to support that nation’s transition to a stable, democratic state, and expressed the commitment of the United States to working with Armenia and Azerbaijan to seek resolution soon to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey.