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On January 30 the RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan and His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians being on a working visit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the invitation of the Emir of Sharjah, Doctor Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, visited the Sharjah American University, where the awarding ceremony of the Emir of Sharjah, Doctor Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi was held. The RA Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the UAE Gegham Gharibjanyan, high ranking guests and representatives of the Armenian community attended the ceremony. In the name of the RA President Serzh Sargsyan the NA President presented the RA Order of Honour to the Sheikh for the significant contribution to the strengthening of friendly relations and development of economic cooperation between the RA and the UAE.

Welcoming the attendees the RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan said: “It is a great honour for me to be hosted in Sharjah, which is considered the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates. It is more honourable to present a state award in the name of the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to an acclaimed scientist and state figure who is not only fully inspired with that culture, but also appreciates the culture and does his best to enrich and preserve it with dignity. In fact, it refers both to the Arabic and the Armenia culture.

The obvious witness of the warm friendship of Armenia and the Armenian people with the Arab world is our centuries-old common history, on the basis of which today the inner-state relations develop successfully.

Armenia attaches great importance to the development of the relations with the Persian Gulf Arab states, and including, certainly, with the friendly United Arab Emirates.

Distinguished Doctor Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi,

The Armenians, as well as the Arabs very dearly appreciate the friendship and seek by all means to preserve it. The history of the Armenian-Arab friendly relations witnesses not only of the spiritual bonds of the two peoples and faithful feelings, but it is also a brilliant example of dialogue and solidarity between the cultures and religions.

The Armenian wonderful church in Sharjah seems to embody the warm attitude existing towards the Armenians in Sharjah, and first of all, from you, dear Sheikh.

Dear attendees,

I had the honour in September 2005 to visit together with the majestic Emir of Sharjah Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi to Haghratsin during his visit to Armenia. The moment when highlighting the historical significance of the Monastery Complex for generations Sheikh Qasimi proposed his financial complete assistance for restoring it. Armenia is grateful to you for sponsoring the restoration works of Haghartsin - the medieval Armenian Monastery Complex. Haghartsin Educational-Scientific Centre is mentioned among the leading cultural centres of the world of the 13^th century.

In the name of the Armenian people and the Armenian authorities, please, accept our profound gratitude.

Please, let me once again thank you for your warm and sincere attitude and express confidence that our relations and friendship still have a long road to pass for the sake of our peoples’ welfare and benefit of Armenia and the United Arab Emirates.”

In the name of the RA authorities the RA NA President invited the Emir of the Sharjah Emirate Doctor Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi to Armenia.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians welcomed the attendees and delivered a speech.

In his word the Emir of Sharjah, Doctor Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi thanked the RA President Serzh Sargsyan for enjoying the RA state award and invitation to visit Armenia and expressed readiness from now on to support the further development and reinforcement of the friendly relations between Armenia and UAE. He highly assessed the centuries-old warm friendship of the Armenian and Arab peoples and deemed necessary to strengthen that friendship in different fields, implementing concrete programmes and more deepening and expanding the existing cooperation in different directions.

The RA NA President left a note in the Book of Commemoration of the University.