The EAFJD extends its warmest wishes and heartfelt congratulates on the 35th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia to all Armenians across the word.
The independent Republic of Armenia is our greatest achievement which was born from aspirations, sacrifices and determination of an entire nation, including the founding fathers of the First Republic of Armenia.
Today, three years after the tragic ethnic cleansing of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh more than ever, Armenians needs unity — not uniformity, but unity around the fundamental interests of our nation and the security, sovereignty and democratic future of our homeland.
Political disagreements are natural in any democratic society. They must, however, never become a reason to turn Armenians against one another, or to create artificial divisions between Armenia, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and the Diaspora.
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No government, regardless of its political orientation, should seek to divide these crucial dimensions of our national life. We must be able to disagree while remaining united around the fundamental principles that transcend political cycles: the sovereignty and security of the Republic of Armenia, the preservation of our national identity and cultural heritage, the defense of the fundamental rights of Armenians, and the strengthening of the bonds between Armenia and the Diaspora.
Our history teaches us that whenever Armenians have stood together, we have demonstrated a strength far greater than our numbers. Conversely, whenever internal divisions have weakened our national cohesion, others have been able to exploit those divisions to the detriment of our collective interests. National unity does not mean silence. It does not mean abandoning political debate or democratic disagreement. It means refusing to make the Armenian nation itself the battlefield of our political differences.
The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy will continue to work in Europe for the protection of Armenian rights and interests, for democratic values, for the strengthening of Armenia-Europe relations, and for the preservation of the unity and dignity of the Armenian people.
On this Independence Day, our message is therefore one of unity, responsibility and hope.
May the Republic of Armenia be sovereign, secure, democratic and prosperous.
May the Armenian people, in the Republic of Armenia and in the Diaspora, remain united in defending our national dignity, rights and future.