AICHI (Combined Sources)–Armenia marked its national day at the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi State–Japan on Tuesday–with Prime Minister Andranik Margarian opening Armenia’s pavilion dedicated to the National Day of Armenia.
Welcomed by a wave of Armenian flags and the playing of the national anthem–Margarian told guests and participants that similar events help to promote integration among nations by establishing not only economic and commercial relations between peoples and states–but promoting cultural and humanitarian ties.
"In the age of scientific and technological progress–economic development is necessary to create opportunities to unite nations and target opportunities for cooperation," Margarian said.
He stressed that International integration and unification can only be possible via the development of each sovereign state and knowledge of the history and culture of each people.
"I assure that we brought the best from the heart and the soul of sunny Armenia–and it has been peculiar to the Armenian people throughout the ages–and remains today and in the future," he stressed.
Armenia’s pavilion–"Art of Life," presented the culture–history–economic and intellectual potential of Armenia–as well as the co-existence of existence man and nature–and the country’s process of international integration.
After attending a reception in their honor in Nagoya city–the Armenian delegation departed to Tokyo for bilateral meetings with Japanese officials.
The Expo–in which 200 nations are partaking–began on Monday with Japan Day with Crown Prince Naruhito and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on hand for the opening ceremony.
"As the host country of the exposition–we have a unique opportunity to let the people of the world know what efforts we’re making to leave a better Earth for future generations," the crown prince told the 2,000 guests.
"On Japan Day–I hope we can increase people’s awareness of Earth and environmental problems–and deepen understanding among the people of the world about Japan’s endeavors in this regard," he said.
Koizumi said he believed that economic development could go hand in hand with environmental protection and that science and technology were key to achieving this.
"I hope the people of the world will work together and think about a future where people and nature can exist in harmony," he said.