Working visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to the Republic of Cyprus

On August 11, President Serzh Sargsyan conducted a working visit to the Republic of Cyprus.

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias at the port of Limassol attended the official ceremony dedicated to the conclusion by the Armenia sailboat of her around-the-world voyage.

After the ceremony of welcoming the ship, the head of the expedition Zori Balayan reported to the President of Armenia on the world tour which commenced on May 28, 2009 in Valencia and has been concluded on the eve of Armenia’s 20th anniversary of independence.

According to Zori Balayan, in the framework of the Saint Mesrop Mashtots scientific expedition, Armenia sailboat started her voyage in the Mediterranean, passed through the Gibraltar and navigated in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. The head of the expedition noted that the crew accomplished its mission and all tasks on five continents, where millions of our compatriots have been living for ages.

Welcoming the crew of the Armenia sailboat, President Serzh Sargsyan noted that all ideas related to this two-year voyage have been realized by the team of the boat with honor.

“You have not only conducted the around-the-world voyage, sailed across three oceans and dozens of seas but have also crossed hard roads of Spyurq in different corners of the world to bring Motherland’s spirit to our communities, giving new meaning to the formula of our identity and to our world-spread cultural heritage,” the President of Armenia stressed.

(Welcoming remarks by President Serzh Sargsyan addressed to the crew of the Armenia sailboat are introduced in the section "News" of the Web)

At the official ceremony dedicated to the circumnavigation of the Armenia ship, the President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, welcoming the President of Armenia and members of the expedition said, “More than 90 years ago, thousands of Armenians, who had managed to escape the Genocide perpetrated in the Ottoman Turkey, had arrived to Cyprus and found their refuge here. Today, the descendants of those refuges have become an integral part of the Cypriot society, while cherishing and preserving their honorable origin. Our fellow citizens - Armenians have become an important link between our two countries, making Armenia an indivisible part of Cypriot heart.”

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias were present also at the festive concert dedicated to the conclusion of the Armenia’s around-the-world voyage. After the concert, the two Presidents accompanied by Zori Balayan toured the boat.

In the evening, the President of the Republic of Cyprus gave a dinner in honor of the President of Armenia.

From Cyprus the President of Armenia left for Astana to participate at the unofficial summit of the CSTO heads of state.