PRESS RELEASE
June 1, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: armecon@speakeasy.net; Web:

Ambassador Markarian Presents His Credentials to President George W. Bush

On May 26, 2005, Ambassador of Armenia Tatoul Markarian presented
his Letter of Credence to President George W. Bush, accrediting
him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United
States. During the ceremony, President Bush and Ambassador Markarian
exchanged remarks, in accordance with the established tradition.

In his remarks, Ambassador Markarian noted the strength of our
bilateral relations and the solid base on which they are founded,
including common interests and shared values. Our common agenda
covers the entire spectrum of political, economic, military and
security cooperation, the Armenian Ambassador noted. He expressed
Armenia’s great appreciation for the enormous political, economic,
and humanitarian support that the United States extended from the
early years of Armenia’s independence. The Ambassador expressed the
determination of Armenia to further enhance the already high level of
cooperation and partnership with the United States in order to meet
the global challenges facing both our nations and the international
community in the twenty-first century.

In his reply, President Bush stated that the United States deeply
valued its friendship with Armenia, noting that our countries are bound
together by a unique history. President Bush stated that since Armenia
became independent in 1991, our countries worked together toward the
creation of democratic institutions and a growing economy so that
Armenia could rebuild after the devastation of the 1988 earthquake,
the collapse of the Soviet Union and the devastation wrought by the
Nagorno-Karabakh war with neighboring Azerbaijan. Armenia has made
such progress in the last 15 years that it is eligible for Millennium
Challenge Account assistance, noted the President.

The President’s remarks stated that he truly appreciated the assistance
that Armenia had rendered in the Global War on Terrorism and its
deployment of forces to Iraq to support that nation’s transition to a
stable, democratic state, and expressed the commitment of the United
States to working with Armenia and Azerbaijan to seek resolution
soon to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and normalization of relations
between Armenia and Turkey.