Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan issued the following statement today marking the 32nd anniversary of the country’s adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Today, we are celebrating the day of adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Armenia.

On August 23, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR adopted the Declaration of Independence, “expressing the united will of the Armenian people”, as stated in the very first line of the Declaration and took the first step on the way to the creation of an independent statehood.

The Declaration of Independence defined the main goals of our statehood: to have a sovereign state, to ensure the country's internal and external security, to define democratic freedoms and to guarantee the implementation of the inalienable rights of Armenian citizens to work, create, and build their own prosperous future.

The content of the Declaration of Independence is always relevant, as it expresses our collective goals and aspirations as a state and as individuals.

And today, just as three decades ago, we must be ready to confront and overcome all the challenges facing our Motherland with joint efforts, having the Declaration of Independence and the idea of Independence as our guide and faith.

I congratulate us all on this momentous symbolic day.