Friday, 1 July 2022
Deputy Prime Minister Matevosyan participates in the celebration dedicated to the 246th anniversary of US independence
On June 30, Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan participated in the celebration dedicated to the 246th anniversary of the U.S. independence at the US Embassy in Armenia.
After the solemn flag ceremony held by the Embassy Marines, the national anthems of Armenia and the USA were performed by the "Hover" state chamber choir.
Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan delivered a speech following the welcoming and congratulatory remarks of US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Lynne Tracy, in which he particularly said,
"Honorable President of the National Assembly,
Your Excellency Madam Ambassador,
Dear colleagues of the legislative, judicial and executive authorities,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, I extend my warm congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the 246th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America.
Taking this opportunity, let me also congratulate the Armenian and American peoples on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Since Armenia's independence, the US Government has provided continuous support to our country, always being committed to the Armenian people's aspiration to live in a more prosperous, economically stable, corruption-free, democratic country based on rule of law, for which I express my sincere gratitude to the US Government.
Close cooperation between our two countries is evidenced by the fact that after the Velvet Revolution, the level of Armenian-American relations entered a qualitatively new phase, and the bilateral intergovernmental consultations grew from economic frameworks to strategic dialogue. I am glad that today we have a full agenda, which already covers many areas, from legal reforms and prevention of corruption to energy and information technology.
I’d like to note with satisfaction that in the spring of 2022, the annual sessions of the Armenian-American strategic dialogue resumed and on May 2, the Armenian Foreign Minister and the US Secretary of State opened the concluding session in Washington. One of the achievements of the 2022 strategic dialogue should be considered the memorandum of understanding on "Civilian nuclear cooperation", which was signed by the heads of the foreign ministries of the two countries. The deepening of cooperation in this field, I am sure, will open up new opportunities for Armenia.
Your Excellency Madam Ambassador,
The Republic of Armenia highly appreciates the efforts of the United States of America aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format. I hope that these efforts will be continuous and we will achieve our goal of establishing peace in the region without neglecting the rights of our compatriots living in Artsakh today.
I also express my deep gratitude for the position of the US administration on the Armenian Genocide. The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by President Joe Biden was an indispensable step for the defence of the centuries-old struggle of the Armenian people all over the world and for giving a harsh answer to those denying the Genocide. The reaffirmation of the position on April 24 of this year shows that the United States remains committed to the primacy of human rights and universal values.
I also want to mention one of the largest Armenian communities today, the Armenian-Americans, U.S. citizens of Armenian nationality, who, being people of various professions, render their service to the USA. They have also stood by Armenia since the first day of the foundation of the Third Republic, for over 3 decades, showing their direct support to the development of various sectors of the country. The Armenian community is a unique bridge that connects the two countries, contributes to the strengthening of relations and raising the level of partnership based on common values.
Your Excellency Madam Ambassador,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, let me to once again congratulate you and the American people on the occasion of the 246th anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America.
Long live the Armenian-American friendship.
Happy Independence Day".
