21
10, 2008

Speech by President Serzh Sargsyan at the opening of the “Russian Square”

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Speech by President Serzh Sargsyan
at the opening of the “Russian Square”


Mr. President,
Dear Guests,

Once again, welcome to Armenia, welcome to Yerevan.

Today is a wonderful and emblematic day: at the very heart of Yerevan, in the presence of the President of the Russian Federation, we are opening the Russian Square.

And this event reminds once again about the deep roots that unite the two peoples.

The great people of Russia made an exclusive contribution to the treasury of the world civilization. The national flags of both Armenia and Russia, which are raised at the Square, signify not only our relations as allies but also embody our cultural and historical similarities.

From the architectural point of view, the Russian Square connects harmoniously with the City Hall and the Moscow House.

It is symbolic that very close from here once the Yerevan fortress was situated, the history of which reflects the depth of the Armenian-Russian relations. It was this very fortress where on October 1, 1827 the Russian flag was raised and where the Russian garrison of general Paskevich was positioned. It is also the venue where the Griboedov’s “Woe from Wit” immortal comedy was staged for the first time, in the attendance of the author.

Today this Square has become yet another symbol of the millennium long friendship of our peoples and of the devotion to their traditions of spiritual closeness; just the way the Vasilyi Blazhennyi Temple in Moscow at the Red Square with its wonderful chapels, one of which is named after Grigori Illuminator.

That’s the way it is because throughout our relations, despite the difficulties and misfortunes that befell us, the friendship between the Armenian and Russian peoples has never weakened, moreover it grew stronger and with passing time acquired a new meaning.

Let this Square become not only a place of attraction for the Yerevaners and the quests of our city but also another symbol of our friendship for the benefit of our two peoples and our two countries.

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