Reverends, Fathers,

Distinguished Mr. Ambassador,

Dear gathered,

I cordially express my warm greetings to all the participants and guests of this special event dedicated to the 25^th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia and of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. It is an event that is one of the regular, but extraordinary initiatives of Tekeyan Cultural Association. Today, Armenian traditional songs and classical music have gathered young Armenian and Arab musicians on one stage, proving once again that the centuries-old friendship between the Armenians and the Arabs is laid on strong foundations.

At the most crucial and the most difficult moment in the history of the Armenian people, Lebanon became the lighthouse for thousands of Armenians who had been deprived of their homeland. This country, which set the best example of hospitality, friendliness, tolerance and dialogues between religions, cultures and civilizations, became the milestone where Armenians were saved and took shelter, grew, got back on their feet, actively participated in and integrated into the politics, society, economy and culture of the country, yet stayed true to their roots, preserved their national identity and the centuries-old historical and cultural values.

And today, young Armenians bearing those values are not only preserving and developing Armenian culture, arts, song and music, but are also familiarizing those eternal treasures of the Armenian people to their Arab friends. I am certain that the performances of the works of Komitas, Aram Khachaturian, Alexey Hekimyan and Edgar Hovhannisyan by the talented Arab musicians will stir unforgettable emotions in the soul of each person in the audience. The program of the concert represents the whole history of Armenian music, including the permanent values, that is, the psalms, folk and national melodies and classical music.

Armenian song is the bearer and witness of the fate of the Armenian people, has been with the Armenians at the crossroads of history, is the struggle and victory of the Armenian people, their air and spirit and will be with them forever.

Dear friends,

The event being held today was made possible through the unconditional efforts of Tekeyan Cultural Association, which will be marking its 70^th anniversary next year. Throughout its existence, Tekeyan Cultural Association has been devoted to the great deed of preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Armenian people, establishing Armenian schools, teaching Armenian history, language and literature and preparing Armenologists.

It is an association that has stayed true to the principles of its founders and has always had the high level of awareness of the role and significance of culture and language in national unity, preservation and consolidation.

It is also thanks to the Association’s activities in the fields of art, science and literature that the Armenian community of Lebanon has been and continues to be the pivot of national, religious, educational and cultural life in the Armenian Diaspora.

The event being held today serves as further evidence of the pro-Armenian activities that Tekeyan Cultural Association has been carrying out for years. After all, each participant of the concert will become a strong bridge between the two nations and will become a unique ambassador of the centuries-old Armenian culture in the Arab World. And after all, by introducing foreigners to the heritage of Armenian national culture, we Armenians increase the international fame and reputation of our culture.

And so, it is not by chance that the Armenian and Arab musicians participating in the concert have been awarded with letters of appreciation of the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia for presenting and disseminating the best traditions of Armenian music, as well as for their contributions to the preservation and endurance of Armenian culture.

Good luck, my dears, and enjoy the concert.