CONGRATULATORY LETTER FROM PRESIDENT

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001520

SIPDIS

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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