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RA NA President’s congratulatory address reads:

“Dear compatriots,

the next page of our chronicle is ending; we continue to create our history together – the history of Armenia and the Armenian people.

25 years ago, in 1991, for the first time we celebrated New Year and Holy Nativity as citizens of the Independent Republic of Armenia.

Today, in 2016, in the 25^th year of our independent statehood, we are more than convinced that we made the only right decision of building our own sovereign state, which being crucial yesterday, remains the same for today’s and tomorrow’s generations.

Dear compatriots,

there have been no easy phases in the bends of the past period of independence. The year 2016 also gave us its ordeals, including the April four-day war, the situation created as a consequence of the seizure of the police battalion, the hard destiny of our Syrian Armenian compatriots and especially the Armenians from Aleppo, etc. However, as always, we overcame not only those ordeals with dignity, but also strengthened the trust towards our forces.

We strengthened ourselves, understanding that nobody will do that for us.

We strengthened in the Artsakh battlefield, gaining victory and re-establishing peace emerged from our young new heroes’ self-sacrifice in April war.

We strengthened in the all-Armenian field, once again underlining that our every compatriot’s destiny in Talish, in Yerevan, in Tula, in Aleppo, is the problem of everybody’s care and concern, the solution of which we undertake with united forces.

We strengthened in the civil perceptions, realizing that inside the country peace is not less important, that Motherland is meant for loving, defending and reinforcing it, but not for turning it to touchstone.

We strengthened in the sphere of law, continuing to bring to life the Constitutional amendments, amendments that will provide the transition into new state government system – parliamentary system through the upcoming next elections of the National Assembly in 2017.

The passing year once again gave an opportunity to get convinced and show that we know the value of the statehood, that we can distinctly get orientated in the history and reality, that we don’t wait for the future idly, but we also strive and move forward.

Dear compatriots,

On the path of progress not only challenges await us, but also new opportunities. The force of our people and our state, the force of our unity and our culture are more powerful than any danger. It depends on us how our future, the coming year, the next century will be.

I wish all of us believed and was confident in our forces, fully and with dignity used our opportunities and potential, in order our future is safer and more secure, so that at this time next year we’ll be able to look back and sincerely say that the passing year was a good year.

Be sure that in 2017 we’ll have more prosperous and fairer Armenia, more welfare and more optimistic citizen through everybody’s efforts, including free and audible electoral vote.

I wish all of you peace and health.

Let the coming year more strengthen and warm up the atmosphere of your family and fill in everybody’s souls with optimism.

Let the real happiness and success come and be visible to all of you.

Happy New Year and Holy Nativity!”