Updates
Press releases
19
09, 2011
Serzh Sargsyan held reception at the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence
Today, President Serzh Sargsyan held reception at the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. The reception was attended by the deputies of the first session of the RA Supreme Council and members of the National Assembly of all convocations.
***
Congratulatory Remarks by President Serzh Sargsyan at the reception held for the members of the National Assembly of all convocations
Your Holiness, Catholicos of All Armenians,
Your Holiness, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
Dear Colleagues,
I congratulate us all on the occasion of this magnificent holiday – the 20th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia. We gathered today to celebrate the most sacred achievement, birthday anniversary of our Motherland. As with any anniversary, in this case too we recall with particular joy all glorious moments, relive sweet memories, and proudly speak of accomplishments.
Just like all friends and family and parents would behave on a twenty-year old anniversary of a youngster. In these days, we recall with pleasure the first steps of the hero of the day, first articulated words, first conquered heights and the greatest achievements. It is, of course, quite natural and is a sheer expression of our boundless love. You may recall that each of us behave the same way on the 20th anniversary of our children.
But we realize all too well that anniversaries remind also of losses and mistakes – our losses and our mistakes. Yes, we had martyrs who through their sacrifice paved the road for the newly independent country’s life. We light candles to their bright memory; these days thousand more candles will be lit up on many celebratory cakes. Those will be candles of life; the entire nation stood up against death for that very reason.
We have also had losses and mistakes which resulted from our unawareness or lack of organization. Forgiveness is to be sought for those mistakes. Of course, a twenty-year old adolescent doesn’t need that forgiveness, we need it; we, because in some cases we were not able to save the lives of our friends, because we have not yet been able to provide decent and dignified living to every family, because in some cases we didn’t hesitate to confront each other, because even at this celebratory moment some chairs around our festive table are empty. I hope to God, that we will be able to forgive us, realizing and redressing our mistakes in time.
Dear Colleagues,
Through all years of independence, our parliament has preserved its unique place and role in statebuilding and development of the country. Unfortunately, some of our deputies passed away but they stay alive in our minds. Today, we ought to direct our congratulations and gratitude to their families. They will be remembered forever and let generations always proudly remember their services to the country.
I want to say “thank you” to all parliamentarians of independent Armenia who brought their contribution to the sacred task of formation, development, empowerment of our country. We had and we have now different approaches; we disagree, find common ground or agree to differ, understand each other, sometimes not. The important thing is that we all had to be united and are to be united now by the picture of strong Armenia, the aspiration to make the Armenia of our dreams a reality for our children, and I am confident that on this issue we have been, we are and we will be united – regardless of different perceptions and understanding of the ways to get there.
You all in different times were engaged in law-making activities. You better than anyone know all too well that any step, effort, act or approach which is inspired by reverence toward our state and its legislation, is aimed at ensuring secure, dignified and prosperous life for our citizens deserves respect. And we should voice it clearly no matter how different these approaches are – they are our assets.
I am confident that we should direct our power and vigor to bequeath the independence generation with a formed political culture. A political culture which will rule out the division of the society into “we” and “they”, a political culture which supposes sound discussions for the country’s and citizen’s better today and even brighter tomorrow.
I believe that our entire society, and particularly parliamentarians present here today have a mission – to form new traditions of political struggle and political activities which will eliminate or reduce to minimum possible shocks and instability in our country for the coming years and decades. I am certain that in our case, gradual but steadfast advancement has no alternative. I think, you will agree that much here depends on each and every one of us.
I believe that our society is mature enough for that. Particularly because on the road toward that maturity we had not only accomplishments but also bitter experiences.
Our twenty-year old state will be entering and has already partly entered a period of time when our mistakes could be very costly; however, the opposite is also true. These are time when our right posture and conduct can bring results much above the anticipated, the results which our country and our people deserve and expect.
With this optimist and confidence, I once again congratulate us all on the 20th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia and proclaim:
Long live the Republic of Armenia!
***
Congratulatory Remarks by President Serzh Sargsyan at the reception held for the members of the National Assembly of all convocations
Your Holiness, Catholicos of All Armenians,
Your Holiness, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
Dear Colleagues,
I congratulate us all on the occasion of this magnificent holiday – the 20th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia. We gathered today to celebrate the most sacred achievement, birthday anniversary of our Motherland. As with any anniversary, in this case too we recall with particular joy all glorious moments, relive sweet memories, and proudly speak of accomplishments.
Just like all friends and family and parents would behave on a twenty-year old anniversary of a youngster. In these days, we recall with pleasure the first steps of the hero of the day, first articulated words, first conquered heights and the greatest achievements. It is, of course, quite natural and is a sheer expression of our boundless love. You may recall that each of us behave the same way on the 20th anniversary of our children.
But we realize all too well that anniversaries remind also of losses and mistakes – our losses and our mistakes. Yes, we had martyrs who through their sacrifice paved the road for the newly independent country’s life. We light candles to their bright memory; these days thousand more candles will be lit up on many celebratory cakes. Those will be candles of life; the entire nation stood up against death for that very reason.
We have also had losses and mistakes which resulted from our unawareness or lack of organization. Forgiveness is to be sought for those mistakes. Of course, a twenty-year old adolescent doesn’t need that forgiveness, we need it; we, because in some cases we were not able to save the lives of our friends, because we have not yet been able to provide decent and dignified living to every family, because in some cases we didn’t hesitate to confront each other, because even at this celebratory moment some chairs around our festive table are empty. I hope to God, that we will be able to forgive us, realizing and redressing our mistakes in time.
Dear Colleagues,
Through all years of independence, our parliament has preserved its unique place and role in statebuilding and development of the country. Unfortunately, some of our deputies passed away but they stay alive in our minds. Today, we ought to direct our congratulations and gratitude to their families. They will be remembered forever and let generations always proudly remember their services to the country.
I want to say “thank you” to all parliamentarians of independent Armenia who brought their contribution to the sacred task of formation, development, empowerment of our country. We had and we have now different approaches; we disagree, find common ground or agree to differ, understand each other, sometimes not. The important thing is that we all had to be united and are to be united now by the picture of strong Armenia, the aspiration to make the Armenia of our dreams a reality for our children, and I am confident that on this issue we have been, we are and we will be united – regardless of different perceptions and understanding of the ways to get there.
You all in different times were engaged in law-making activities. You better than anyone know all too well that any step, effort, act or approach which is inspired by reverence toward our state and its legislation, is aimed at ensuring secure, dignified and prosperous life for our citizens deserves respect. And we should voice it clearly no matter how different these approaches are – they are our assets.
I am confident that we should direct our power and vigor to bequeath the independence generation with a formed political culture. A political culture which will rule out the division of the society into “we” and “they”, a political culture which supposes sound discussions for the country’s and citizen’s better today and even brighter tomorrow.
I believe that our entire society, and particularly parliamentarians present here today have a mission – to form new traditions of political struggle and political activities which will eliminate or reduce to minimum possible shocks and instability in our country for the coming years and decades. I am certain that in our case, gradual but steadfast advancement has no alternative. I think, you will agree that much here depends on each and every one of us.
I believe that our society is mature enough for that. Particularly because on the road toward that maturity we had not only accomplishments but also bitter experiences.
Our twenty-year old state will be entering and has already partly entered a period of time when our mistakes could be very costly; however, the opposite is also true. These are time when our right posture and conduct can bring results much above the anticipated, the results which our country and our people deserve and expect.
With this optimist and confidence, I once again congratulate us all on the 20th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia and proclaim:
Long live the Republic of Armenia!