YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Galust Sahakyan has issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.

The message reads:

“Dear representatives of the Press, I congratulate you on World Press Freedom Day.

Some of the events containing violence or intolerance which are taking place in different parts of the world are directed against freedom: the freedom to live, freedom to think, act, and, of course, against the freedom of speech. As bearers and exercisers of these freedoms, especially freedom of speech, journalists are in the focus of those events. Freedom is not fully insured in both hot spots, and even the most democratic and the most civilized societies, the witness of which are reporters, who risk their own freedom and unfortunately their own lives to secure the freedom of speech and public awareness.

Along with the history of states, the history of press is being written. This year, along with the 25th anniversary of the Independence of Armenia, marks the quarter century of the history of Press Freedom in Armenia, although some media are even older than our independence. They all are the chronologists of the modern history of our country, which irrespective of various judgments, are free in their thinking and actions, free to choose, and along with different perceptions of freedom have a common understanding about the importance of the motherland and statehood. This was the case during the first days of the Nagorno Karabakh war, and during the recent April war.

In terms of a democratic state and civil society the freedom of speech is essential in both developing countries, and in countries where assessments are sometimes made about the level of freedom of speech and democracy. In honor of both our society and the integral part of its development process: the media,  , we can say that free speech is preferred and appreciated, sound and instructive.

Once again congratulating you on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, I wish you, dear representatives of the Press, peace, optimism, prosperity and all the best. "