US embassy cable - 04YEREVAN1520

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001520 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
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