CONGRATULATORY LETTER FROM PRESIDENT

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001520 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT PLEASE PASS WHITE HOUSE DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV AM SUBJECT: CONGRATULATORY LETTER FROM PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN TO PRESIDENT BUSH ¶1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified. Please treat accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs transmitted a letter from President Robert Kocharian to President Bush congratulating him on the occasion of the 228th anniversary of the independence of the United States. ¶3. (SBU) The text of the letter follows (original in English). Begin text: Yerevan, July 2, 2004 Dear Mr. President, On behalf of the people of Armenia and my own behalf, please accept warmest congratulations on the two hundred and twenty-eighth anniversary of the independence of the United States of America. We are grateful for steady partnership and generous assistance of the United States in supporting our efforts to build a stable, democratic and prosperous country. Another demonstration of such support has been acceptance of Armenia in the MCA initiative. The United States is a home of over one million people of Armenian descent, who have been given the opportunity to become an integral part of American society and make a significant contribution to economic, political and cultural life of the United States. They are a source of pride for Armenia and a special link between our two countries. Armenia highly appreciates the role the United States plays in our region, greatly contributing to the economic development and stability in the South Caucasus. We also highly value the United States' continuous engagement, as the OSCE Minsk Group Co- Chair, in the Nagorno Karabagh peace process. The government will continue its unconditional support for the US-led campaign to combat international terrorism and prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Mr. President, please accept once again my best wishes for happiness and continued success to you personally and the friendly people of the United States. Sincerely, /s/ ROBERT KOCHARIAN H.E. GEORGE WALKER BUSH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE WHITE HOUSE WHASHINGTON, D.C. ORDWAY