According to the decrees of the President of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, on the occasion of Republic Day, military ranks and higher class ranks were awarded, and a group of people were awarded high state awards for their significant contribution to the development of the motherland.

President Khachaturyan first congratulated everyone on the occasion of Republic Day and, handing over the high awards, thanked them for their courage and dedication.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan, and other high-ranking officials were also present at the solemn ceremony held at the President of the Republic's residence. In his speech, the President said:

"I congratulate all of us on the occasion of Republic Day. May 28, the Independence Day of Armenia, is one of the most important holidays of our statehood, the advice of which is the expression of our collective will to build an independent, sovereign, legal, and democratic state.

May 28, 1918, is one of the brightest episodes in our history. It was a decisive step in realizing the age-old dream of our people to have their own place on the world political map, to be the supreme right holders to decide their own destiny.

The First Republic of Armenia was formed during the war, and our politicians had to take the first steps on the way to building an independent state while simultaneously trying to solve the problems of the existence of hundreds of thousands of our compatriots who survived the genocide, the creation of public administration bodies, the army, and infrastructure. All that had to be done without an ally or a friend, relying only on our people's collective will, wisdom, and devotion.

1991 was also very little different from the environment of the creation of the First Republic. We again had to step towards building an independent state under the conditions of the war imposed on us, tasting the joy of victories and the bitterness of losses.

Today, May 28, 2024, our state's challenges are not less. During more than three decades of independence, Armenia was able to secure its right to existence at the cost of often heavy and irreversible losses, acquire new friends, and not avoid opponents either. It is also for this reason that this holiday is an excellent opportunity to reevaluate our statehood, history, and independence.

One thing is for sure: the First Republic and the current Republic of Armenia are the result of our joint effort, dedication, and work.

In this regard, even today, relying on our strength, trusting and believing in the wisdom of our people, we can firmly move towards the goal of building the national dream state.

I am also sure that we will succeed, each of us doing our job with responsibility and compassion in our place, in our workplace, and in our daily lives by continuously educating ourselves and acquiring new professional qualities. Only in this way can we have an independent, sovereign, democratic, legal, developing, and mighty Armenia.

Once again, congratulating all of us and especially our colleagues who received high state awards today, I wish the Republic of Armenia new successes, strength and stability, and peace."