Foreign visits
Working visit of the President Serzh Sargsyan to the Federal Republic of Brazil
President Serzh Sargsyan has left for the Federal Republic of Brazil on a working visit. The President will support the Armenian athletes participating at the 31st Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
In the framework of the visit, Serzh Sargsyan will attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the RA Embassy in Brasilia. The President of Armenia will also have official meetings with the leadership of Brazil.
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President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in the Federal Republic of Brazil on a working visit, on August 12 arrived at the capital of the country Brasilia. After the official welcoming ceremony, the President of Armenia met with the Acting President of Brazil Michel Temer.
At the beginning of the meeting, Serzh Sargsyan thanked for the warm welcome and congratulated Michel Temer on hosting the Olympic Games in Brazil. The President of Armenia expressed gratitude on behalf of the Armenian athletes for all necessary conditions created in Rio de Janeiro and the cordial attitude. He wished positive and safe course to the 31st Olympic Games – a festive sporting event which unites peoples of the world. According to the President, the Olympic Games besides being a great sporting holiday also send a message of peace to the entire world. Serzh Sargsyan expressed hope that the Games taking place these days in Brazil will reiterated this important notion for the humanity and will help in improving the international atmosphere and making it healthier, which, in his opinion, is expedient, especially in recent times. In this context, President Sargsyan spoke also about the significance of a peaceful resolution of the NK conflict and underscored that Armenia attaches great importance to Brazil’s balanced and unbiased position.
At the meeting, the leaders of the two countries exchanged views on cooperation between Armenia and Brazil in different areas, possibilities of further strengthening and deepening of the bilateral relations. The President of Armenia noted with satisfaction that Armenia and Brazil enjoy strong friendly relations based on respect and mutual trust. Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of developing versatile relations with the one of the economic and political heavy-weights of the world – Brazil, and expressed hope that his current visit will become an impetus for the strengthening of the bilateral relations and will outline new areas of cooperation.
From the viewpoint of developing the bilateral ties, the President of Armenia underlined the import of the high-level reciprocal visits, as well as regular consultations and contacts in bilateral, as well as multilateral formats, and in the framework of international organizations. Serzh Sargsyan hailed the last year recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Senate of Brazil. According to the President of Armenia, the document which reflects the recognition of the Armenian Genocide characterizes the people of Brazil in their best, their system of values, and moral aspirations. The parties stressed the importance of developing the interparliamentary relations, ascribing a big role to the Friendship Groups functioning in the Parliaments of the two countries.
Based on the results of the high-level Armenian-Brazilian talks, the parties signed documents aimed at the development and strengthening of the bilateral cooperation in a number of areas. The parties signed the Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Armenia and the Federal Republic of Brazil on Cooperation in the Area of Education, Agreement of Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply of the Federal Republic of Brazil on Cooperation in the Area of Agriculture, Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Federal Republic of Brazil on Political Consultations, Memorandum of Understanding between the Diplomatic School of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Rio Branco Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Brazil on Cooperation, Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and Government of the Federal Republic of Brazil on Technical Cooperation.
Later, in the framework of his working visit President Serzh Sargsyan in Brasilia will attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Embassy of Armenia in the Federal Republic of Brazil.
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President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in the Federal Republic of Brazil on a working visit, accompanied by the Chairman of the National Olympic Committee Gagik Tsarukian on August 13 at the Olympic village of Rio de Janeiro met with the athletes representing Armenia at the 31st Olympic Games.
The President of Armenia expressed confidence that the Armenian sportsmen will have achievements and reminded that these achievements make our nation more recognizable. Serzh Sargsyan stressed that the Armenian sportsmen will compete with other national teams which represent bigger nations and in their own countries have thousands of athletes thus, considering this fact, achievements of the Armenian sportsmen become more valuable.
“Your fans are plenty but your first fans, your supporters are the citizens of Armenia, your coaches, and the Olympic Committee. You know better than me that there is no need to worry. Sport is always about success and failures; the important thing is that you are able to fully show your potential. Recently, the number of prizes has grown. I would like to repeat that the most important thing for you is to fully demonstrate your potential,” said President Serzh Sargsyan at the meeting.
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President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in the Federal Republic of Brazil on a working visit, in the capital of the country Brasilia participated at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Brazil.
Present at the groundbreaking ceremony were also the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil Jose Serra, Ambassadors accredited to Brazil, high-level diplomats, and representatives of the Armenian community.
The area allocated for the Embassy of Armenia is 15,750 square meters. According to the May 10 Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Ambassador of Armenia to Brazil Ashot Galoyan and the Honorary Consul of Armenia in San Paolo, prominent community figure and benefactor Hilda Diruhi Burmayan, the premise of the Embassy will be built by the Burmayan family and in particular by the donations of the benefactor Hilda Diruhi Burmayan. The construction of the Embassy is scheduled to be concluded in no more than 12 months.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil made statements.
“Our relations started in 1992 and recently have become much stronger, and undoubtedly, thanks to your, Mr. President presence here. The agreements, which have been signed, will further fortify our friendly bilateral relations. Please be assured that they will become even stronger in the areas of economic investments and health care. This event, which is taking place in the Embassy, will become a base for new, prosperous and promising relations in the future,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil Jose Serra.
“Glancing back at our mutual past, we can state that in different areas Armenia and Brazil have established and developed versatile ties. The current visit of President Serzh Sargsyan will undoubtedly become a strong foundation for the augmentation of our mutual agenda with promising initiatives, elevation of the Armenian-Brazilian relations to a qualitatively new level. We have every possibility for Armenia and Brazil to deepen existing close relations of the two states and peoples based on friendship, respect, and trust. This is the main message which we in the presence of the President of Armenia will lay in the foundation of the new Embassy,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Edward Nalbandian in his statement.
At the conclusion of the groundbreaking ceremony, the parties signed a joint Memorandum and inserted it in the foundation of the Embassy.
In the framework of his working visit to the Federal Republic of Brazil, President Serzh Sargsyan in San Paolo, which is the third most populous city of the world and has the largest Armenian community in Brazil, met with Governor Geraldo Alckmin and representatives of the Armenian community.
t the beginning of the meeting the President of Armenia first thanked the Governor Alckmin for the assistance, which the state of San Paolo is continuously providing to the Armenian community. In the development of the Armenian-Brazilian interstate relations and strengthening of the friendship of the two nations and reciprocal familiarization with the cultural values, Serzh Sargsyan highlighted the importance of the decentralized cooperation and brought the example of proclaiming over a decade ago Osasco and Gyumri, as well as Franco da Roca and the capital of Nagorno Karabakh capital Stepanakert sister towns.
The President expressed hope that reciprocal visits of different levels and contacts, including those between the local governance bodies, will give a new impetus to the relations between Armenia and Brazil and will expand the agenda aimed at the development of cooperation. President Sargsyan thanked the Governor of San Paolo and authorities of the state for the official recognition of the Armenian Genocide as well as for the installation at the Armenia Square in San Paolo of the memorial dedicated to the victims of the Mets Eghern.
The President of Armenia and Governor Geraldo Alckmin discussed possibilities of developing cooperation in different areas and full utilization of the existing potential. They spoke in particular about research in the area of agriculture and prospects of cooperation in the scientific innovation programs.
At the conclusion of the meeting, President Sargsyan made an inscription at the Book of Honorary Guests of the San Paolo City Hall.
"I am glad for the opportunity to be hosted at San Paolo state – the locomotive of Brazil. Peoples, who represent different cultures and traditions, coexist here side by side. I am glad that my compatriots are among them; they have been able not only to survive but develop, bringing their unique participation in different areas of the country’s life. Armenian squares, bridges, and memorials in different towns of San Paolo make this state precious for us. I am hopeful that our cooperation from now on will become even closer for the benefit of the Armenian-Brazilian friendship,” wrote the President of Armenia.
At the conclusion of the meeting, President Sargsyan and the Governor of San Paolo met with the representatives of the Armenian community of San Paolo who organized a reception at the Governor’s Mansion in the honor of the President of Armenia.
In his address the President of Armenia noted with satisfaction that thousands of kilometers away, the Armenian community in the friendly Brazil has been able to preserve the Armenian spirit and to decently present the Armenian nation, living and creating beyond the borders of Fatherland with diligence and wisdom typical for the Armenians, acquiring high social status, becoming law abiding citizens of Brazil, professionals respected and in demand in many areas. Serzh Sargsyan hailed the role of the community in the development of the Armenian-Brazilian relations and underscored that because of them many in Brazil know about the Armenian people and our millennia long heritage.
“I am proud that despite the challenges of the fate today we are here, together, we have independent homeland, athletes, who present that independent homeland worthily at these Olympic Games, and in your person compatriots who support them here.
Dear Attendees,
One hundred years after the Armenian Genocide, we are united more than ever; we’ve put together our forces and with our united spirit have been able to prove to the world that the Armenian resolve is unbreakable, our struggle for justice, for the condemnation of the Genocide is unyielding. Our struggle will go on as long as anywhere in the world people are being exterminated solely for what they are. As I have already said, genocide anywhere in the world must be perceived as a failure of the entire international community, while prevention of genocides is the responsibility of every one and all of us together. With this regard I express my profound thanks to the local governing bodies of Brazil in the person of the leadership of the state of San Paolo, as well as to the Federal Assembly of Brazil for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in 2015 which thus made their input to the efforts of the international community in the prevention of genocides and other new crimes against humanity. With that resolution Brazil validated the contribution of the thousands of the descendents of the Armenian refugees residing in Brazil to the economic, social, and cultural life of Brazil. We watched closely events organized in Brazil and other countries of the world dedicated to the Genocide remembrance. I thank you, all organizations of the Armenian community in Brazil, structures and unions, individuals for their committed work, for your daily dedication to the Motherland, readiness to support Artsakh. I am confident we will continue to cooperate in the same spirit and will call to life multiple programs.
Dear Compatriots,
Twenty-eight years ago the Armenian nation stood up to support Artsakh, to liberate Artsakh. Artsakh’s struggle for survival was yet another manifestation of our national revival and union, which gave a start to the restitution of our statehood. Months ago, Azerbaijan bluntly violated ceasefire agreement with its large-scale activities and once again unleashed war against Artsakh but suffering great loses had to stop and wrap up its activities. The four-day war was a test of our unity which we passed with honor. In those days the entire Armenian nation stood up in Armenia and in Spyurk and became one fist. And we realized that there is no force in the world that can shake our unity. In line with the well-know maxim, we are striving for peace, but ready for war. Armenia is steadfast in the finding a peaceful resolution to the problem and resolute in fulfilling the just demand of the people of Artsakh for their right of self-determination.
Dear Compatriots,
This year our entire nation will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of our two Armenian nations. Twenty-five years - a quarter of a century - one generation. Our greatest achievement of this period in my opinion is the generation which thinks freely, values freedom, which is proud and rebellious, which defies me often. A quarter of a century is plenty, so the time has come to re-evaluate the road we have travelled. There is no doubt that along with achievements, in these twenty-five years we have had losses, but also accomplishments and victories; we have become a full member of the international community. Today Armenia has entered a new phase of development. Through the changes to the Constitution we have opted for a longtime and sustainable development. It reflects our vision of the future, our notions and approaches aimed at building a democratic, strong, prosperous, and secure state. The new Constitution will become the fundament for our future achievements, for the Armenia of a new generation. Fortified by twenty-five years of independence, today we look into future with faith and move with steady steps,” said the President of Armenia.
Serzh Sargsyan spoke about reforms carried out in our country in the last 25 years, about the improvement of the business and investment climate and noted that in Armenia we are ready to discuss investment programs of the representatives of the Armenian community, new ideas and creative proposals, create opportunities and conditions for their implementation. The President of Armenia said that 25 years later it is important and necessary to speak of mutually beneficial cooperation rather than aid.
“Dear Armenians,
In conclusion, I would like to say that regardless of where in the world we live or what language we speak we have one common value – the Fatherland of all Armenians and the Armenian statehood,” stressed the President of Armenia. Serzh Sargsyan also responded to the questions from the audience.
Governor Geraldo Alckmin also made a statement at the meeting with the representatives of the Armenian community.
Noting that Armenian statehood dates back to the 6th century BC and that in 301 Armenia became the first Christian nation, Governor Alckmin underscored that Armenia is called a Land of Stones because located at the crossroad between East and West, Armenia passed a rocky path. The Governor noted proudly that San Paolo is the first Brazilian state where April 24 was declared the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.
“We are honored that 70 percent of the Armenian community of Brazil reside in our state, so here you’re home. We have the Armenian district, the Armenian metro station, the Armenian bridge. Even Portugal does not have so many things in our state. The Armenian community is cherished here: it brings great participation to the development of our state and certainly assists our state in every way. We have impressive economic relations with Armenia, and after the visit of President Serzh Sargsyan they will expand further. We are proud, Distinguished President Sargsyan, to host you in our state, in San Paolo, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia which will be celebrated on September 21. Let your visit be a productive one and please remember that here you are at home,” said Governor Geraldo Alckmin in his statement.
At the conclusion of the meeting, President Serzh Sargsyan awarded Honorary Consul of Armenia in San Paolo, a prominent figure of the community and benefactor Mrs. Hilda Diruhi Burmayan with the First Degree Order for the services to the Fatherland. In addition to many already implemented programs, the Burmayan family will fund the construction of the Embassy of Armenia in the Federal Republic of Brazil.