On September 29 in the New York prominent Gotham Hall, a solemn evening
devoted to the 20th anniversary of the “Hayastan All-Armenian Fund” took
place. Around three hundred Armenians living in the U.S. east coast, who
have provided their support to the works of the Fund during the last two
decades, attended the evening.

The gala evening run by the well-known Armenian-American attorney Mark
Kirakos, were attended by Khoren Bandazian, chairman of Armenia Fund USA,
Armenian Ambassador to the US Tatoul Margarian, Armenia's Permanent
Representative to the UN. Ambassador Garen Nazarian, Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) and Archbishop Oshakan Choloyan, the Primate of the Eastern
Diocese of the U.S. of the Great House of Cilicia, who delivered welcoming
speeches.

At the evening the keynote speaker was Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
who particularly said, “On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the “Hayastan All-Armenian Fund”, I would like to start my speech with the word so familiar, beloved
and cherished for all of us- Armenia which means the Home of Armenians.
Yes friends, Armenia means the Home of Armenians.

That Home has passed through the tests of centuries. Sometimes it was
taken away from us. But today we are the owners of that Home.

In the common sense Armenia is the only home for the Armenian people.
I often say that founding their own homes in different parts of the world
Armenians established thousands of little Armenias and it is indeed true.
But today the only own common home of Armenian people is called Armenia.
Many peoples and nations have already built their home under this heaven.
But there are also those who failed to keep their house, so that they do
not have such home today.

But we have.

Today, we strengthen the foundations of our home and raise the walls in
order to pass it to the next generations safely and nicely.
It depends on the contribution of the generation of today's Armenian
people and each of us to what extent the walls of our home would be high
and safe, whether it would be beautiful, whether its light would be
visible from all corners of the world bringing pride to all of us and our
coming generations.

Regardless of how the Armenians live in different parts of the world, in
modest hut or luxurious mansion, the foreigners would judge about him by
the resistance, beauty and safety of the house called Armenia.
Today the foreigners follow how the Armenians build their homes.
Most of them are friends, but there are also those who want harm. They are
not many. I do not think they are more than two.

The leader of one of our neighboring states, declaring an ax-murderer, who
killed a sleeping Armenian as a national hero, does not want our home to
be strong. By describing the Armenian Diaspora, and the Armenians all
around the world as enemy number one, he dares put under question the
integrated safety of Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora.

Another leader of our neighboring country, imposing blockage on Armenia,
does not want the Armenians to live in welfare and safety in their own home.
Dear compatriots,

Upon the commitment of every Armenian to build and embellish our home, our
fatherland, our beloved Armenia does depend which of them would feel happy
and which would be saddened.

Dear Friends,

It’s a great pleasure to address you on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the “Hayastan All-Armenian Fund” and once again to reflect on its goals, activities, accomplishments and perspectives.

Twenty years ago, when our state, after the restoration of its independence, was making its first steps in building state and national institutions, when the wounds caused by the earthquake were not yet healed, when our compatriots in Artsakh were facing the threat of annihilation, when Armenia’s blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan was imposed, an All-Armenian structure was founded and immediately stood by Armenia and Artsakh.

If the first major project of the Fund was the “Winter” project aimed to address the demands of the population in extremely difficult conditions of the first years of our independence, later activities were dedicated to the development and infrastructure projects. Among first projects so important for our security and sustainable development were Goris-Stepanakert highway, usually called as a “lifeline” linking Armenia to Artsakh, soon followed by the “North-South” highway, which provides spinal network of roads connecting the towns and villages in Artsakh.

500 km-s of roads, 300 km-s of water supply systems, and 150 km-s of natural gas lines have significantly improved the living conditions in Armenia and Artsakh and rendered an indispensable contribution to the development of our Homeland. More than 200 schools and kindergartens, hundreds of health care, sports and cultural centers will serve for the present and coming generations.

The Fund became a unique nationwide institution, unifying Armenians around the world and strongly contributing to the empowerment of the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora interconnectedness.

The Fund, with its diverse activities has become a 20-year-old nationwide mission of commitment to our national goals. There is a saying that charity begins at home and justice begins next door. Your charity, dear compatriots, has been an unwavering part of our common struggle for the just cause of the Armenian people.

Certainly, hope, willingness and hard work are the driving forces for the realization of small or great projects, but equally essential is the passion and dedication for the sake of welfare and prosperity of our Homeland.
This anniversary is a strong symbol that reaffirms the endless devotion of worldwide Armenians to their Homeland.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear compatriots,

On behalf of the President of Armenia I would like to express deepest gratitude to all those who have brought and are bringing their contribution to the realization of past, current and future initiatives of the Hayastan All Armenian Fund.

I would like to extend warm appreciation to the structures of the Fund in the United States, which have always been at the forefront of the Fund’s activities and endeavors since its inception and always provided great leadership by setting an example of effectiveness.

I would like to especially thank our young generation, who, with their continuing contributions, are becoming the most vital locomotive of the Fund.
I wish every success to the Fund, its leaders and supporters. I wish all of you new ambitious achievements to the benefit of Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora.
Thank you!