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Press releases
23
09, 2011
Working visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to the United Nations
President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in the United States on a working visit, on September 22 arrived to Ellis Island where he visited the Museum of Immigration, viewed exhibition dedicated to the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and to the Armenians who had survived the Genocide and immigrated to the United States through the Ellis Island.
On the Island, the President was welcomed and accompanied by the President of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) Nasser Kazemini, members of the NECO Board, representatives of the Armenian-American community.
President of NECO Nasser Kazemini awarded President Serzh Sargsyan with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his input in the development of the US-Armenia relations, his dedication to the preservation of peace in the South Caucasus as well as for the activities aimed at the efficient integration of immigrants in Armenia. It was noted that during twenty-five years of the medal history, President Serzh Sargsyan is the first foreign leader who’s been honored with this award. Among over one thousand individuals awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, there are six Presidents of the United States, a dozen of State Secretaries, senators, congressmen, Noble prize winners, artists and businessmen.
Noting that the visit of the RA President is a historic event, particularly when Armenia is celebrating the 20th anniversary of independence, Nasser Kazemini said, “He is a man, who has been struggling for his country, whose vision of a free and prosperous Armenia enjoys support of the American government and world governments. And most importantly, he has engaged in a dialogue of peace and tolerance with the neighbors, bringing his nation closely to peace. Mr. President, because of all that you have done for your country and for the Armenian-American relations, history will remember you with great respect.”
The President of Armenia expressed gratitude for the honor and noted, “Today, I am touched and proud to receive this Medal of Honor, also on behalf of the Armenians and their generations who had passed through the Ellis Island. I accept it as a token of appreciation of success that our people achieved on these distant shores, as a symbol of further development and deepening of the Armenian-American friendship and partnership.”
(The full text of the President’s speech on receiving the NECO Medal of Honor is presented below)
After the award ceremony the NECO President Nasser Kazemini hosted a reception in honor of President Serzh Sargsyan.
***
Gratitude Speech by President Serzh Sargsyan on being awarded the NECO Medal of Honor
Dear Mr. Nasser Kazemini,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First, allow me to express my profound gratitude to the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations for honoring me with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, as well as those individuals and organizations, who have nominated me. It is a great honor and I appreciate being first non-American president who has been honored with this award.
The Medal of Honor carries a name which for more than a century in the entire world has been a powerful symbol of hope, opportunities of freedom, and dignified life. They entered the United States in the anticipation of freedom of speech and conscious, new economic possibilities and new hope, millions - today we learned that there were 12 million immigrants and expatriates - who had fled their countries because of wars, catastrophes, poverty. It is no accident that the Statue of Liberty, which is the greatest symbol of the American spirit, is rising nearby as unique beacon.
Tens of thousand of the Armenians, who had survived the first genocide of the 20th century, passed through the Ellis Island. They had arrived, got settled, started a new life and very soon had become good citizens of the United States, formed one of the most vital communities, a community which has made a considerable contribution to the social, political, economic, cultural and scientific life of the United States.
Today, I am touched and proud to receive this Medal of Honor, also on behalf of the Armenians and their generations who had passed through the Ellis Island. I accept it as a token of appreciation of success that our people achieved on these distant shores, as a symbol of further development and deepening of the Armenian-American friendship and partnership.
Ethnic diversity is a source of power and might of the United States, its infinite asset. United and enthralled by the grand ideas of the founding fathers for freedom, equality, respect for law, along with being honest and proud Americans, representatives of national communities at the same time have every possibility to preserve and develop their national identity, language, traditions. The Armenian-American community is a community which was able to become a bright example of integration into the American society while preserving its own national identity.
I convey my words of gratitude to the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations – an organization which dedicated itself to the studies and broadcasting of the contributions made by the national communities to the life of the American nation. It is especially important for the communities which are not coming from large countries or societies, but nevertheless possess rich culture and carry great mental potential.
It is not less important that the Organization is led by a open-minded and experienced person. Mr. Kazemini, I take this opportunity to invite you and your distinguished wife to visit the Republic of Armenia, which as an independent country only yesterday celebrated its 20th anniversary.
I once again thank you for this high honor, and God bless you all.
On the Island, the President was welcomed and accompanied by the President of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) Nasser Kazemini, members of the NECO Board, representatives of the Armenian-American community.
President of NECO Nasser Kazemini awarded President Serzh Sargsyan with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his input in the development of the US-Armenia relations, his dedication to the preservation of peace in the South Caucasus as well as for the activities aimed at the efficient integration of immigrants in Armenia. It was noted that during twenty-five years of the medal history, President Serzh Sargsyan is the first foreign leader who’s been honored with this award. Among over one thousand individuals awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, there are six Presidents of the United States, a dozen of State Secretaries, senators, congressmen, Noble prize winners, artists and businessmen.
Noting that the visit of the RA President is a historic event, particularly when Armenia is celebrating the 20th anniversary of independence, Nasser Kazemini said, “He is a man, who has been struggling for his country, whose vision of a free and prosperous Armenia enjoys support of the American government and world governments. And most importantly, he has engaged in a dialogue of peace and tolerance with the neighbors, bringing his nation closely to peace. Mr. President, because of all that you have done for your country and for the Armenian-American relations, history will remember you with great respect.”
The President of Armenia expressed gratitude for the honor and noted, “Today, I am touched and proud to receive this Medal of Honor, also on behalf of the Armenians and their generations who had passed through the Ellis Island. I accept it as a token of appreciation of success that our people achieved on these distant shores, as a symbol of further development and deepening of the Armenian-American friendship and partnership.”
(The full text of the President’s speech on receiving the NECO Medal of Honor is presented below)
After the award ceremony the NECO President Nasser Kazemini hosted a reception in honor of President Serzh Sargsyan.
***
Gratitude Speech by President Serzh Sargsyan on being awarded the NECO Medal of Honor
Dear Mr. Nasser Kazemini,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First, allow me to express my profound gratitude to the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations for honoring me with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, as well as those individuals and organizations, who have nominated me. It is a great honor and I appreciate being first non-American president who has been honored with this award.
The Medal of Honor carries a name which for more than a century in the entire world has been a powerful symbol of hope, opportunities of freedom, and dignified life. They entered the United States in the anticipation of freedom of speech and conscious, new economic possibilities and new hope, millions - today we learned that there were 12 million immigrants and expatriates - who had fled their countries because of wars, catastrophes, poverty. It is no accident that the Statue of Liberty, which is the greatest symbol of the American spirit, is rising nearby as unique beacon.
Tens of thousand of the Armenians, who had survived the first genocide of the 20th century, passed through the Ellis Island. They had arrived, got settled, started a new life and very soon had become good citizens of the United States, formed one of the most vital communities, a community which has made a considerable contribution to the social, political, economic, cultural and scientific life of the United States.
Today, I am touched and proud to receive this Medal of Honor, also on behalf of the Armenians and their generations who had passed through the Ellis Island. I accept it as a token of appreciation of success that our people achieved on these distant shores, as a symbol of further development and deepening of the Armenian-American friendship and partnership.
Ethnic diversity is a source of power and might of the United States, its infinite asset. United and enthralled by the grand ideas of the founding fathers for freedom, equality, respect for law, along with being honest and proud Americans, representatives of national communities at the same time have every possibility to preserve and develop their national identity, language, traditions. The Armenian-American community is a community which was able to become a bright example of integration into the American society while preserving its own national identity.
I convey my words of gratitude to the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations – an organization which dedicated itself to the studies and broadcasting of the contributions made by the national communities to the life of the American nation. It is especially important for the communities which are not coming from large countries or societies, but nevertheless possess rich culture and carry great mental potential.
It is not less important that the Organization is led by a open-minded and experienced person. Mr. Kazemini, I take this opportunity to invite you and your distinguished wife to visit the Republic of Armenia, which as an independent country only yesterday celebrated its 20th anniversary.
I once again thank you for this high honor, and God bless you all.