Welcoming Speech by Ambassador Hovhannes Manoukian

21 September, 2012

Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished guests, dear colleagues!

Today is the National Holiday of Armenia - The Independence Day. For any country, particularly for a country that has restored its independence quite recently, it is a point of reflection, a time when we need to estimate the results of the path passed and to set priorities for the future.

The Armenian state was formed in the rigid fight against the external adversary. During this period the Armenian authorities had to solve not only a complex of most difficult internal and external challenges, but also to secure the independence of own territory. They also had to sustain and maintain the safety of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

Now Armenia, rightfully, is a member of the commonwealth of the civilized states, with aspirations of European values and unshakable will of creation of civil society.

In the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, Armenia is making all the efforts for a peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

One of the major issues in which Armenia stands its principals and doesn't intend to concede, is the unequivocal and rigid response to any attempts of incitement of hostility based on ethnic grounds, similar to the one that took place recently when a criminal had committed a cold-blooded murder of the sleeping military officer, only because of the Armenian ethnicity of the victim. That murderer was set free and was turned into a national hero upon his return to his country. From now on Armenia's reaction to such provocations, fraught with regional instability, will be unequivocal and decisive. We want to make clear that the Armenian state and the Armenian community abroad are significant structures, which cannot be ignored and need to be reckoned with.

Dear friends, our relationship with Georgia is that of good neighbors. It is based on the centuries-old traditions passed on to us by the previous generations.

Today, with good reason, we can note that there is no question between Armenia and Georgia that cannot be decided by constructive dialogue, and our relations are qualified as strategic in essence, by both countries.

However, as it often happens between neighbors, there are elements of competition to our relations. Our competition limits itself to routine issues in the spheres of arts, sciences, ethnic cuisine and humor.

This competition only adds special spice to our friendly relations, and I would like to bring in my own contribution and to tell to our guests that today they can personally be persuaded of obvious advantages of Armenian cuisine over the Georgian one. In particular, such delicacy as the Armenian dolma, against which it is difficult to find worthy argument, even among the dishes of the Georgian cuisine, which is famous for its richness and variety. Although, dear Georgian friends, I want to admit that you, nonetheless, do know how to make a mean satsivi …

Georgia is home to the largest and oldest Armenian diaspora in history, which binds us and holds additional bonds of friendship between our people. Armenia, in every possible way, asserts that the Armenian community of Georgia is an integral part of the Georgian society, has a great knowledge of the Georgian language, and is a real asset to its homeland in various and diverse fields - from commerce and business to public service.

Dear friends, once again, my congratulations to you, and best wishes for stability, well-being and prosperity to all people around the world.

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