President Armen Sarkissian on Tuesday, September 21 congratulated the 30th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia, as the country is going through a "critically difficult situation, with many problems and challenges," such as the aftermath of the Second Karabakh War and the coronavirus pandemic.

"For thirty years, due to various objective and subjective reasons, we have not been able to fully realize the opportunity provided by independence, develop our victory and success. Everything seemed to be there for it, from the dream to the idea, from the excitement to the will, from the experience of the past to the pursuit of the future," the President said in his message.

"Today, the history of our country, the people, the present, and the future are intertwined. We must learn from the past. At the same time, we must not let the past prevent us from moving forward. We must make more efforts for the future development of our Motherland, Armenia, and Artsakh. But first, we must assess and realize the vital value of an independent state realistically, not emotionally."

Sarkissian called for a clear national and state agenda, vision and program, which must also guide the country's actions in contacts with its partners and international relations, in general.

"We need a deep awareness of our national identity and statehood. We need unity to make our Homeland a safe, defensive, strong, and healthy state in all respects. We need patience and awareness to realize that difficulties are temporary, and we can overcome them," he said.

"We need farsightedness to see new opportunities even in the current situation. We need realism and a revaluation of reality. It is not only the state that needs restarting but also our feeling of statehood and the awareness of the consequences of the possible danger of losing it.

"We must get out of the situation with our heads held high, our backs straight, and move forward: in an atmosphere of solidarity, tolerance, and national accord, with the courage to look into each other's eyes with dignity, straight, and honestly, with the persistence in renouncing pretense and populism, and taking actual steps, with the aim of making our Homeland, Armenia and Artsakh, secure and prosperous."