Also present at the event were representatives of U.S. State Department, USAID, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, as well as former U.S. Ambassadors to Armenia. An official delegation headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian traveled to Washington to participate in the celebration.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador of Armenia to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian noted that among the major and irreversible achievements of independence were democratic development, liberal market economy, strong state institutions, and consolidation of the entire Armenian nation around the newly-independent state. Ambassador Markarian stressed the essential role
of the strong Armenian-American community and U.S.-Armenian relations in sustaining the newly-independent statehood and promoting Armenia's economic development.

Speaking on behalf of U.S. administration, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia and Special Negotiator Matthew Bryza offered warm congratulations on the fifteenth anniversary of independence and noted the friendly relations and close cooperation between the United States and Armenia on issues of regional and global importance.

Delivering the keynote address during the celebration, Minister Oskanian drew historical parallels between the current independence and the experience of the First Republic and noted that upholding Armenia as an independent, democratic, and prosperous state is a task for the Armenian nation as a whole. He stressed the importance of unity and solidarity between Armenia and Diaspora in further enhancing the independent statehood. The keynote address by the Minister is available in full at the Foreign Ministry website, at www.armeniaforeignministry.am