PRESS RELEASE                                                      
September 27, 2008

Embassy of Armenia and the Community Celebrate the 17th Anniversary of Armenia’s Independence

On September 27, 2008 a concert dedicated to the seventeenth anniversary of Armenia’s independence took place in the renowned Lisner auditorium of George Washington University. The concert was organized under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the United States and Women’s Guild of the Saint Mary Armenian Apostolic Church of Washington D.C. During the concert the prominent “Sayat Nova” dance company performed a unique show of Armenian traditional folk dance and a reflection of the life and legacy of the Armenian people. The show symbolized the livelihood, the traditions, the aspirations, the legends and the spirit of the Armenian people.

In his message Ambassador Markarian noted: “17 years ago the citizens of Armenia expressed their century-old vision to live in a free and independent country and to be in charge of their own destiny”. He further noted that throughout the past seventeen years the young Armenian state and the Armenian people demonstrated their ability to overcome tremendous difficulties of political and economic transformation, and serious external challenges that emerged in the post independence period.

More than 1300 participants from different communities of Armenian-American Diaspora, as well as representatives of the US Department of State and non-governmental organizations attended the concert. The Washington Post described the event as a great success.