PRESS RELEASE                                                      
October 23, 2006

Armenian Embassy with Leading Armenian American Organizations
Celebrate Armenia's Fifteenth Anniversary in Washington, DC

On October 21, 2006, the fifteenth anniversary of Armenia’s independence was celebrated in Washington’s renown Omni Shoreham Hotel with a special event drawing near 500 guests from all Armenian communities in the United States and the heads of all the leading Armenian-American political, cultural, religious, and benevolent organizations. Represented at the event were organizations that made an essential contribution to sustaining the Armenian independent statehood, such as the Armenian National Committee of America, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Assembly of America, Fund for Armenian Relief, the Armenian Missionary Association of America, the Cafesjian Family Foundation, and the Armenian Relief Society, whose representatives had the opportunity to make congratulatory remarks.

Also present at the event were representatives of U.S. State Department, USAID, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, as well as former U.S. Ambassadors to Armenia. An official delegation headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian, including Chief Economic Adviser to the President Mr. Vahram Nercissiantz and Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian, traveled to Washington to participate in the celebration.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador of Armenia to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian noted that among the major and irreversible achievements of independence were democratic development, liberal market economy, strong state institutions, and consolidation of the entire Armenian nation around the newly-independent state. Ambassador Markarian stressed the essential role of the strong Armenian-American community and U.S.-Armenian relations in sustaining the newly-independent statehood and promoting Armenia’s economic development. He noted that the above organizations and the Diaspora in general enthusiastically embraced the newly-independent Armenia and supported the efforts of the Armenian government. The Ambassador of Armenia noted that the presence of all the leading organizations at the celebration once more demonstrated the unity of the Armenian nation and the Armenian state, which is the best guarantee for success of Armenia and all Armenians in the twenty-first century and beyond. Excerpts from the Ambassador’s remarks are presented below.

Speaking on behalf of U.S. administration, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia and Special Negotiator Matthew Bryza offered warm congratulations on the fifteenth anniversary of independence and noted the friendly relations and close cooperation between the United States and Armenia on issues of regional and global importance.

Delivering the keynote address during the celebration, Minister Oskanian drew historical parallels between the current independence and the experience of the First Republic and noted that upholding Armenia as an independent, democratic, and prosperous state is a task for the Armenian nation as a whole. He stressed the importance of unity and solidarity between Armenia and Diaspora in further enhancing the indepependent statehood. The keynote address by the Minister is available in full at the Foreign Ministry website, at www.armeniaforeignministry.am

Excerpts from remarks by Ambassador Tatoul Markarian at the special event celebrating fifteen years of independence

It is a great honor to welcome you to the event celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia. Fifteen years ago, the citizens of Armenia voted to make Armenia an independent and democratic state. The newly-born Republic of Armenia has made enormous efforts and tremendous sacrifice to build Armenia we all dream about. Among the major and irreversible achievements of independence are democratic development, liberal market economy, and strong state institutions. Armenia has become an active and responsible member of the international community. The restoration of Armenia’s independence also gave new life to the Armenian Diaspora, helping revitalize the Armenian identity, revive the strength of the Armenian communities, find new mission and adjust towards new goals, especially in Armenia and Artsakh. Not having been a nation-state in the conventional sense of the word, independent Armenia has become a truly national state.

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Celebrating the anniversary of Armenia’s independence in Washington, D.C. is indeed appropriate since the U.S. government, and also the World Bank and the IMF have been the biggest investors in Armenia’s independence from the very beginning. Its latest manifestation is the Millennium Challenge Corporation program in Armenia. The U.S. Congress has always been an unreserved supporter of Armenia throughout its political and economic transition. Our American friends on the Hill and in the Administration have never had doubts about the dedication of the Armenian people and leadership to our shared values and principles, and I want to thank them for that. Our strong cooperation all these years and your eagerness to share our today’s celebration express the warm friendship between the United States and Armenia.

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Washington also symbolizes the strong Armenian American Diaspora, which has distinguished itself by its essential contribution to sustaining Armenia’s independence from day one. The Armenian-American community was in the forefront of the efforts to help make true the centuries-long dream, the building of Armenian statehood, and worked tirelessly to help expand U.S.-Armenian relations.

The Armenian Church, the Diasporan communities, patriotic individuals, and organizations such as the Armenian National Committee of America, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Assembly of America, Fund for Armenian Relief, Cafesjian Foundation, Armenian Missionary Association of America, and Armenian Relief Society have enthusiastically embraced the newly-independent Armenia. These organizations supported the efforts of the Armenian government, and not only – in a way – co-sponsored the newly-born independence, but also willingly came forward to co-sponsor with the Embassy today’s celebration, which we appreciate highly. The list of patriotic organizations naturally is not limited to those only, and there are also great examples like Kirk Kirkorian’s Lincy Foundation and others.

I cannot enumerate all of them today but I want assure you that their commitment and dedication will be admired and deemed even more monumental from the horizon of the future by generations to come.

Independence has always been a unifying factor, and tonight’s celebration once more demonstrates the unity of the Armenian nation and the Armenian state, which is a prerequisite for success of Armenia and all Armenians in the twenty-first century and beyond.

Once again, I want to congratulate and also thank each and every one of you for being with us tonight. And thanks to all the individuals and organizations who have helped us in organizing this event.

Thank you.