ETCHMIADZIN. – Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II issued a message of congratulations on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the independence of Armenia. 

“Today is the glorious day of the restoration of our statehood. Relying on God, our nation always hoped for this sacred dawn of independence.    

“Our new state has passed along a difficult but an upward path. There still are problems and concerns, which will be surmounted.    

“We will watch over each day of the free Armenia, for the sake of the vitality and progress of our homeland, for the sake of the united and bright future of all Armenians,” the Catholicos’ message reads, in particular.