Tuesday, 1 July 2014
Esteemed First Lady Rita Sargsyan,
Honorable National Assembly Speaker,
Dear Colleagues,
Distinguished Guests,
Dear Young People,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and myself, please accept my warmest greetings on the opening of “My Armenia” festival. Welcome to Motherland.
It is my pleasure to see that as the forerunners of the Armenian culture, you have gathered in Armenia to add relish and warmth to this beautiful event. In the era of globalization, culture seems to be the best way for any nation to self-expression, strengthened ties of friendship and worldwide recognition. I am grateful to you that in spite of living abroad you have a great mission to perform by preserving our national identity through artistic means and enrich the cultural mosaic of your country of residence. This splendid hall has brought together art communities from Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora. This trinity is the key to success. It would have been impossible for our nation to defy the problems and challenges ahead without unity.
Dear youth,
God has endowed humans with the awareness of spiritual values and national identity. In this regard, I would like to emphasize that this festival is a vivid manifestation of our collective identity and national spirit.
On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Armenians worldwide are endeavoring toward the restoration of historical justice. You can bring your own contribution to this process by upholding the dignity of the Armenian people and participating in all-national events, spreading our rich cultural traditions. Please continue with your noble effort aimed at promoting and disseminating the Armenian culture.
I welcome all of you and wish every success to “My Armenia” festival. I would like to thank the participants for building on Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora relationship, safeguarding and developing our nation’s cultural identity. Welcoming you once again, I extend my sincere appreciation to the organizers.