On October 17, during her working visit to the Netherlands, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan had a meeting with the leaders of Dutch-Armenian community organizations at the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. During the meeting, the minister talked about the programs of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and handed awards to organizations and individuals having made outstanding achievements for the preservation of the Armenian identity.

Among the recipients was President of the “Urartu” Armenia-Netherlands Organization Martun Elbakyan, who received the “Ambassador of the Mother Language” Medal. Hayern Aysor presents the interview with Elbakyan by a correspondent of the Diary of the Netherlands.

Diary of the Netherlands: You are the president of the “Urartu” Armenia-Netherlands organization and are also the principal of the one-day Armenian school named after the organization’s benefactor Karen Saribekyan and the Armenian-Dutch school for adults, which provides Armenians and people considering themselves Armenians the Dutch language through Armenian. Mr. Elbakyan, tell us about your activities.

Martun Elbakyan: First, I would like to express my gratitude to the staff at the editorial office of the Diary of the Netherlands. It will take me a long time to answer this question, but I will try to make it short.

The “Urartu” Armenia-Netherlands organization was founded in 2012. The organization is mainly involved with solving educational issues and organizes events devoted to memorable dates, anniversaries and holidays.

The system of education is mainly composed of two parts. The first school is the one-day Armenian school named after benefactor Karen Saribekyan, and the other is an Armenian-Dutch school that provides Dutch language instruction through Armenian.

Both schools have clubs. The school after benefactor Karen Saribekyan has two clubs, including a club for students to learn the Armenian alphabet and a club for instruction of the mother language. The Armenian-Dutch school for adults, which provides instruction of the Dutch language through Armenian, is also composed of two groups, including a club for adults and elders wishing to speak literately and write in Dutch (this provides them with the opportunity to communicate with the people around them more freely) and a club for youth who learn Dutch through Armenian. However, the main purpose of the learners of this last club is to prepare for the exams and state exams to acquire citizenship.

Next year, the one-day Armenian school after benefactor Karen Saribekyan will celebrate its tenth anniversary. This year marked the sixth academic year of the school for adults.

Diary of the Netherlands: Mr. Elbakyan, the Diary of the Netherlands has often touched upon your successes and achievements. In 2013, you received the title of Best Master of Teaching, which is one of the best titles of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and are considered one of the bearers of that title in that year. What were your impressions?

M. E.: The first thing I felt was that the Dutch society was the first to notice and appreciate what I have been doing in the Netherlands throughout the years. I received the award during a ceremony organized by the Committee on Education of the Netherlands and the Committee on Education and Science of the European Union. It came as a surprise because the committee selecting the winners had strict approaches, and only five of the many contenders won and received the title of Best Master of Teaching.

Diary of the Netherlands: Of course, it was a great honor for you, and the Diary of the Netherlands referred to it as one of the top events of the year.

M. E.: I also thank you for that. I read about it. Some newspapers in Armenia also reflected on that after your article was printed.

Diary of the Netherlands: I believe the king of the Netherlands organized a meeting with the best masters of teaching. Who talked to you? The details are interesting.

M. E.: The meeting was organized by the corporations of apartment buildings that were celebrating their 100^th anniversary. The corporation of my apartment building had invited two residents to participate in that celebration, and I was one of them. I had the honor to meet King Vilem-Alexander of the Netherlands. Dutch correspondents touched upon our conversation. According to the protocol for meetings with the king, I am not allowed to provide all the details of the meeting. However, there was no secret. I have already told you about it. I take pride in the fact that the king is concerned about the worries of his population. During the conversation, I also talked about my activities and my Armenian identity.

Diary of the Netherlands: Mr. Elbakyan, a short while ago, we were attending the meeting with RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan at the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia. Some teachers, including you were granted the “Ambassador of the Mother Language” Medal of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, which portrays the creator of the Armenian alphabet, Mesrop Mashtots. The Diary of the Netherlands also cordially congratulates you on that occasion and others who received the award. How do you feel?

M. E.: Thank you for the congratulatory remarks. I have congratulated and congratulate the other recipients once again. You know, it is a great honor because after living in the Netherlands for years, I have been able to not only preserve the purity of the mother language, but also transmit it to the young generation and solve issues related to Armenian upbringing at the same time, and the Mother Homeland appreciated my efforts. I highly appreciate this medal. It goes to show that the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the Netherlands and especially the Ministry of Diaspora are attentive. The fact that the activities of Diaspora Armenians are in focus deserves appraisal, and for that I have expressed my gratitude to RA Minister of Diaspora, Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan.

Diary of the Netherlands: Now I would like to ask a provocative question. You received the title of Best Master of Teaching of the Netherlands and the “Ambassador of the Mother Language” Medal of Armenia. Which do you consider more precious?

M. E.: You know, each of them is different. Both are precious. When the Mother Homeland appreciates you, it awakens a different feeling. Receiving the title by the European systems of education in the European Union is another qualitative evaluation. The “Ambassador of the Mother Language” Medal, which is decorated with the picture of Saint Mesrop Mashtots and the alphabet that he created and which I personally received from the minister, is close to my heart.

Diary of the Netherlands: Thank you, Mr. Elbakyan. We wish you more success for the glory of the Republic of Armenia.

M. E.: Thank you and all the members of the Diary of the Netherlands organization for your support and attention and for letting our people know about even a small success.