Greece sends "warmest congratulations" to Armenia on its Independence Day

The Greek Foreign Ministry sent its congratulations and best wishes for Armenia on its Independence Day.

"Greece sends its warmest congratulations and best wishes to the people and Government of Armenia celebrating their Independence Day! This year we are also happy to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and Armenia," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Armenian Independence Day is commemorated every September 21 to celebrate the independence of the country from the Soviet Union with the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty.

Formally known as the Republic of Armenia, the country is home to 2.9 million inhabitants and is bordered by Turkey, Georgia, Iran, and Azerbaijan.

In the late 1980s, there was growing dissent in Armenia against Soviet rule. On August 23, 1990, the Supreme Council of Armenia decreed that the Soviet Armenian SSR should move out and free the Republic of Armenia.

Since Armenia refused to join the New Union Treaty, which it believed would render it a part of Russia, an attempted coup d’état took place on August 19, 1991, but failed. In response, on September 21, 1991, a referendum was held with over 90% voting in favour of independence.

In November 1991, Levon Ter-Petrosyan was elected the first president of Armenia. A few months later, in December 1991, Armenia joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Finally, on December 26, 1991, in connection with the dissolution of the USSR Armenia gained independence.

It is the second declaration of independence in modern Armenian history. The first took place on May 28, 1918, when the First Republic of Armenia was established as a nation-state.

This nation-state in late 1920, was partitioned by the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and Turkey's genocidal nationalist forces.

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