NKR PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN’S SPEECH IN LOS-ANGELES

Panorama.am
14:04 24/11/2008

On 23 November NKR President Bako Sahakyan delivered in Los Angeles
a speech at the Gala Dinner Party organized by the "Hayastan"
All-Armenian fund and to the "Telethon -2008".

"Dear friends, Ladies and gentlemen,

I am very much happy to have an opportunity to welcome once
again at this overcrowded hall. This is the best evidence of the
fact that Artsakh and Diaspora are united and consolidated, that
Artsakh-Armenia-Diaspora trinity has been strengthening and becoming
more practical day by day.

First of I congratulate you as citizens of the United States of America
on electing new president. Indeed, the victory of Barack Obama is
an important event in the history of America and world democracy. I
hope that his readiness to address issues the Armenian people face
will contribute to further strengthening and diversifying relations
between our countries.

I would like also to thank all of you that even today when the USA
faces financial crisis you are ready to contribution to the development
and prosperity of your Motherland. At t at the bottom of our hearts
we are grateful to you for such a great devotion and kind-heartedness.

Friends, a full year has passed since our previous meeting. I would
like to introduce you changes, which also owning to you have taken
place in Artsakh within this time period. In virtue of your immediate
assistance in different settlements of the republic new schools,
kindergartens, medical institutions and water pipes have been built
and rebuilt; a number of programs are in progress. Practical and
realistic programs have been carried out to solve social problems,
to increase living conditions of people and improve demographical
situation, a strategically important sphere for our state.

Recently we solemnly celebrated an unprecedented event – the Grand
Karabagh Wedding. As a result nearly 700 new families were formed in
Karabagh. This undertaking was carried out under the patronage of our
compatriots from Russian and its goal is to stimulate birthrate and
having many children in our country. This is very important for the
future of our people and republic. In this respect I want to introduce
an important figure: the programs being carried out resulted in nearly
3000 marriages registered within the 10 month period of the current
year. This is against the background of 750 to 800 marriages, which
were registered annually in the last five years.

Considerable changes have taken place also in the size and structure
of the state budget. The 2008 state budget exceeds that of the
previous year more than 1,3 times. The volume of monies allocated
to agriculture, forestry and water industry by current year state
budget exceeds that of the 2007 more than 3,8 times, in the sphere of
social security 1,5 times. In the spheres of education and science
the difference is 27%, in capital investments it is 22%, and in the
sphere of culture it is around 29 percent.

Reforms have been implemented in the spheres related to investments
and entrepreneurship too. As a result of these reforms the country’s
economy has received more than 10 million dollar foreign investments
in the current year.

In spite of positive changes it must be noted that the current year is
a quite difficult one for our republic. Almost all settlements of the
republic have suffered from unprecedented frost and strong winds. It
caused several million dollar damage to our economy. However, the
people of Artsakh were able to cope with those difficulties also and
came off with flying colors. It became possible by dint of exerting
every effort, systemized and consolidated work of population, personnel
of the armed forces and authorities of the republic.

Artsakh people are well aware that only through laborious work
they can build and enrich their country, make the land of their
ancestors flourishing and prospering, leave free and independent,
strong and invincible Motherland to the generations to come. You,
our world-spread compatriots, our sisters and brothers who are always
ready to be useful to their Motherland and nation on the other side
of the ocean, have important role to play too.

The best proof of this can be considered the annual telethons organized
by "Hayastan" All-Armenian fund. The entire Armenian people have
been united around this idea. I want to assure you that every cent
you contribute to the Motherland will give its worthy result, will
be multiplied and serve its very purpose. Your kind deeds will be
memorized and passed from generation to generation.

Compatriots, the "Telethon-2008" is again devoted to the development of
Armenian and Artsakh economy especially to revival of the countryside,
securing development of villages and rural settlements and improving
living standards of the population. The sums collected during the
already traditional telethons will be spent on building and reviving
state infrastructures, as well as on securing normal living conditions
for people.

The top priorities of our economic development are the spheres
of education, science, culture, health protection, capital
construction. The solution of problems related to the security of our
republic is of great importance too. Strong and efficient army is the
most important guarantee of security of our people. The authorities
of the state are have been doing everything possible to keep the army
always ready to fulfill the tasks put before it.

Friends, I am very much confident that we will continue to build our
country together, do our best so secure quiet, peaceful and worthy
life for the people of Artsakh on the land of their ancestors land
and make their homes and the Motherland prosper.

This year we have celebrated the 20th anniversary of Artsakh Heroic
Movement with in a great way and reiterated publicly that we are
resolute in our choice. The land of Artsakh has been and will always be
an Armenian. We have paid too high price to live a free, independent
and secure life in our own land and not even for a moment we have
right to forget about blood that has been shed by the best sons of the
Armenian people. The best perpetuation of the memory of our martyrs
will be the strong and prosperous Nagorno Karabagh Republic.

We said many times before and will always say that the independence
and security of Artsakh are of exclusive values cannot be subject to
any speculation.

Compatriots, the future of Artsakh is a task for the entire Armenian
people and only being united and consolidated we can realize our
national goals, only together we can secure bright and radiant future
for dear to all of us Artsakh and the worldwide Armenians.

Thank you and all the best!"