On December 7, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Armenia Yogeshvar Sangvani.

Cordially greeting the guest, the Minister highly appreciated the Ambassador’s efforts to have an in-depth understanding and perception of Armenia and the Armenian culture and to enhance Indian-Armenian relations and voiced hope that the relation and cooperation between the two nations would be strengthened in the near future. “It is not by chance that the Armenians have had special privileges to work, hold offices and trade freely in India. Azdarar, the first Armenian newspaper, was established in your country, and the wonderful manifestation of Armenian political thought (“New notebook for making a call”), the charter of the community was created and applied in Madras,” Hranush Hakobyan said.

The Minister of Diaspora presented the strategic directions for the Armenia-Diaspora partnership, the activities that are being carried out with the Armenian Diaspora, as well as the programs and events of the Ministry of Diaspora that are aimed at preserving the Armenian identity, consolidating and using the potential of the nation for Armenia’s development and introduced the Ministry’s events devoted to repatriation and homeland recognition. The Minister attached importance to the cooperation with young Indians who are pursuing their studies in Armenia and participate in the Ministry’s events with great pleasure and willingness, particularly the festive event dedicated to Mother Language Day (21 February) and recite and sing in Armenian.

Ambassador Yogeshvar Sangvani expressed gratitude for the cordial reception and presented the activities that the Indian government carries out with the Indian Diaspora and the peculiarities and stated that the main direction is the ensuring of the Indian Diaspora’s engagement in the development of the country. The Ambassador touched upon the touristic and homeland recognition programs for Indians abroad and attached importance to the annual Days of Diaspora Program to be carried out on 7-10 January and the events to be held within the scope of the program.

Yogeshvar Sangvani expressed his sympathy with the Armenian people and culture and added that the centuries-old friendship between the two nations has a rich history and that the Armenian merchants who settled in India contributed to the country’s economic development and established a unique culture, the testimonies of which are particularly the seven churches that remain standing.

Issues on future cooperation were also discussed during the meeting.