US Congressman Adam Schiff congratulated—also in Armenian—the people of Armenia and Armenians worldwide on the 25th anniversary of the independence of Armenia.

“Today, I join with my Armenian-American constituents and the vibrant Armenian community across the world in saying ‘Oorakh Angakhootyan Or [i.e. Happy Independence Day],’ as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia. And while their path to independence has never been easy, Armenians persevered through foreign domination, outside threats and the first genocide of the 20th century. There’s no doubt that the Armenian community is an invaluable asset to our society, breaking new ground socially, economically and politically across the nation, and enriching our customs, traditions and quality of life.

“On this important day, I wish to say congratulations to the people of Armenia, to Armenians in America, to my Armenian-American constituents, and to all Armenians around the world,” Congressman Schiff wrote on his Facebook account.