The course of 30 years of independence amounts to a blink of an eye considering Armenia’s millennia-old history and civilization, but in this span of time the country has successfully carved an identity as an independent, cohesive, and democratic nation, full of hopes towards the future.
Armenia’s contributions to the development of human civilization are undeniable testified by both material and non-material heritage this nation has left not only in its cradle, the Armenian Highland, but also wherever its sons and daughters have set foot.
As a country and a nation, Armenia is known to the world through the earliest forms of documented history, such as the oldest map of the world, the Babylonian Map of the 6th century BC, as well as the book of histories by the Father of historiography, Herodotus, and the writings of the Father of geography, Strabo.
Armenia was always at the forefront of creative societies. For example, in 301AD, it became the first country in the world to officially adopt Christianity as the religion of the State, a brave undertaking that was not easy to fulfill in a world entirely covered by Paganism. In 405AD Armenians created their own alphabet; so unique and near to perfect that it passed through centuries till our days without any significant changes.
Armenia’s rich history has left its unique mark on every corner of the country, which for three thousand years has had twelve capitals, many of which are located in the modern Republic of Armenia today. Throughout this long history, the country was unfortunately subjected to many invasions by bigger empires and militant tribes, thus suffering huge losses and shrinking in size.
The biggest tragedy occurred in 1915 when 1.5 million Armenians were massacred in their homeland, while hundreds of thousands were deported. Many were saved by the Arab people, and found refuge in the Arab homeland, thus receiving a chance to start a new life.
In 1918, the Armenians, despite these enormous losses and blows, did decisively restore their statehood, rising from the ashes like phoenix. In the 1920s, after the Sovietization of the Republic, Armenia entered an era of nation building, developing its economy, and reaching new heights of industrial, technological, scientific, as well as cultural and educational achievements as part of the Soviet Union.
At the collapse of the USSR, Armenia declared its independence in 1991, subsequently becoming a full-fledged member of the United Nations. Armenia has from then on resolutely walked through the path of creating a sovereign, democratic, and social state governed by the rule of law; a State whose highest value is the human being where the power belongs to the people.
Armenia is a predictable and reliable partner on the international arena, a member of the international community, always abiding by the letter and the spirit of international law.
Unfortunately, Armenians were forced to fight for their freedom and were subject to full scale military aggressions many times. The recent such use of force against them in Artsakh caused numerous irreversible human and material losses. This unresolved conflict poses a serious threat to the security of Armenia and the peace of the region.
As the USA, France, and Russia – the UN mandated mediator Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – have highlighted in their latest statement on the conflict, the parties should return to negotiations under the auspices of the Co-Chairs as soon as possible.
Armenia, in compliance with the statement of the Co-Chairs, reiterates that addressing the consequences of the aggression will serve as a basis for lasting peace and stability in the region. Armenia and the Armenian people will make every effort to fully restore all the rights of our compatriots for a free, secure, and dignified life in Artsakh, their historical homeland.
Thirty years since independence, Armenia has dealt with the aftereffects of a devastating earthquake, pulled through the painful process of transition from command to market economy, been subjected to wars, and absorbed the internal stresses of democratic transformation. Despite the odds, the Armenian people have shown their resilience, and their desire to build a country fit for their children and welcoming to their neighbors.