October 20^th marked the launch of the 8^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists, which was held under the title “Armenian Statehood: Axis of Unity” in Yerevan (20-22 October) and Stepanakert (23-24 October). The forum was organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the Coordinating Council for Pan-Armenian Forums of Journalists, the All-Armenian Media Association and the Union of Journalists of Armenia. This year, the forum was very symbolic since it was dedicated to the 25^th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The forum gathered 140 journalists from 31 countries. The Diaspora Armenian journalists had come to the homeland as the “pulse” of the Diaspora that makes every beat of the heart (Armenia) palpable and “visible” in every part of the planet.

Among the participants was editor of Lebanon’s Khosnag Monthly Hampig Mardirossian. According to him, what was very symbolic was the fact that the forum was held exactly a month after the 25^th anniversary of Independence, gathering a number of Armenian journalists of Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora in the heart of the homeland to set and signal a new starting point. “We came with a new vision and dream and with a feeling of longing and tenderness for our homeland, language and culture. We came with new goals and hopes and to prove once again that the homeland is unimaginably connected to the Diaspora with a magnetic force, like a mother praying for her sons who are far away from her,” Mr. Mardirossian stated in an interview with Hayern Aysor.

The approach of Diaspora Armenian journalists to their profession is beyond the perspective of professional duties and responsibilities. For them, being a journalist is first and foremost a mission, one of the goals of which is to have Diaspora Armenians always be aware of what is going on in the homeland. Many prestigious Diaspora Armenian media outlets have also managed to preserve the Armenian identity abroad, starting from Azdarar, Hyusisapayl, Mshak, Murtch, Nayiri, Pyunik and Hairenik periodicals. It was not by chance that Armenian press, in particular literary press was established in the Diaspora. “We are very well aware of the role of an Armenian journalist abroad. The homeland inspires us, and we inspire our other compatriots, turning Armenia into the backbone of our spiritual world. We live for Armenia, and the victory and losses of the homeland are our victory and losses. We journalists also bear the burden of shedding light, informing and strengthening the Armenia-Diaspora relations on our shoulders, especially the journalists who have a heartfelt attitude towards life in the homeland and who has a goal to establish a connection between Armenia and Diaspora Armenians. The journalists of Diaspora Armenian media outlets must have a unique ability to realize, perceive and understand everything, as well as find, select and present the right information to readers and the audience,” the editor of Khosnag Monthly said.

According to Hampig Mardirossian, Armenians face many challenges (language, identity, culture, preservation of the Armenian identity, awareness of national values, maintenance of the Armenian family), and the only way to confront these challenges is to ensure a close and constant relationship with the homeland. “Those relations are more than strong today. They grew stronger through the efforts of the Ministry of Diaspora, particularly Minister Hranush Hakobyan over the past couple of years. She linked the Diaspora to Armenia with many strings and measures and created an atmosphere of unity. Thanks to all this, we are solving many problems, discussing and achieving the ultimate and desired outcome together. We also need to realize that the Diaspora can’t exist without the Homeland. The sooner Armenia becomes strong, the sooner the Homeland and the Diaspora will become one entity on one land and within the boundaries of one homeland. We Armenians are in our Golden Age. We have independence, and we are shaping our identity and recognizing ourselves. We know who we are, and the only thing left for us to do is to stand united as one,” Hampig Mardirossian emphasized.

Amalya Karapetyan