HEADS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES CONGRATULATED THE PEOPLE OF ARMENIA ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

PanARMENIAN.Net - Today is a national holiday in Armenia. September 21 is the 10-th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia. During the referendum held in 1991 the people came out in favour of independence of the state outside the Soviet Union.

In connection with the holiday President of Armenia Robert Kocharian received congratulation messages from heads of a number of foreign states. "Friendship and cooperation between Armenia and USA will grow stronger each year", - US President George Bush expressed confidence in his congratulation message. "Our countries continue their joint efforts to achieve the common goal of establishing peace, stability and prosperity of Armenia, - the message says. - Peace in this region will create huge opportunities for the Armenian people, ensuring economic development and security for the next generations." "America has specific ties with Armenia due to more than a million population of Americans - Armenians by birth -who enrich the national life of America."

Russian President Vladimir Putin also felicitated the Armenian people on the national holiday. "In course of the last 10 years Armenian-Russian relations, based upon centuries old ties of the two peoples, have become allied, which corresponds to the basic interests of Armenia and Russia", - the head of Russia writes. The message particularly notes that bilateral relations in all spheres have become a factor for strengthening cooperation within the framework of Treaty on Collective Security and Commonwealth of Independent States, and also for securing peace and stability in the Caucasus. "I recall with affection the recent meetings in Yerevan and fruitful negotiations, during which directions of further development and intensification of Armenian-Russian relations were developed and confirmed", - V.Putin notes.