On October 14, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan attended the event dedicated to the 50^th anniversary of the Jinishian Memorial Program at Gabriel Sundukyan National Academic Theater.

Minister Hranush Hakobyan highly appreciated the Jinishian Memorial Foundation’s activities and stated the following: “Fifty years ago, dictated by the gene for awareness of his duty to the homeland and his parents, Vartan Jinishian, a highly reputable son of the Armenian nation, established the Jinishian Memorial Program in memory of his parents.

The Jinishian Memorial Program was established through a mutual agreement with the U.S. Presbyterian Church, and to this day, it continues to provide extensive services of vital importance to thousands of needy Armenians living in different corners of the globe. The Jinishian Memorial Foundation took its first steps in Syria and Lebanon, providing assistance to Armenians stricken by poverty due to the conflict and unstable conditions.

Today, various humanitarian and development programs are being carried out in Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Israel, Armenia, Artsakh and Georgia to help raise the quality of life of our compatriots and meet the demand for a dignified life, and this is done by individuals who deserve to be honored and glorified.

The strategic approaches to the activities of the members of the Jinishian Memorial Foundation are clear-to consider the primary issues concerning Armenians, the challenges and the opportunities for solving them, regardless of location.

For five consecutive decades, the Jinishian Memorial Program has provided millions of dollars to the “sons” of Vartan Jinishian, that is, needy Armenians in order to ensure their spiritual, intellectual and social development through the implementation of various kinds of pro-Armenian programs.

I attach special importance to the Jinishian Memorial Program through the Jinishian Memorial Foundation in Armenia, Artsakh and Georgia. Since Armenia’s independence, the Foundation has been achieving great heights in the spheres of healthcare, agriculture, civil society, economy and community development in Armenia.

While we are grateful for the work that has been done, we have no doubt that the Foundation will undertake new initiatives to accomplish its mission and achieve its goals in Armenia.

Another advantage of the Foundation’s pro-Armenian activities is that it is celebrating its anniversary in the Mother Homeland. Once again, I congratulate the members of the U.S. Advisory Committee, the representatives of the local advisory body, all the contributors and the entire staff of the Jinishian Family on the 50^th anniversary of the Jinishian Memorial Program, wishing that you turn your ideas into a reality and implement your programs.”

The representatives of the organizations were awarded with the certificates of appreciation of the President of the Republic of Armenia  for the pro-Armenian activities of the Jinishian Memorial Program and the Jinishian Memorial Foundation in Aleppo, as well as the great contributions to the implementation of charity and development programs in Armenia.

Expressing gratitude for the high award, Director of Jinishian Memorial Program USA Eliza Minasyan emphasized the following: “Fifteen years ago, we attached importance to the development programs aimed at eliminating the causes of problems, not mitigation of the consequences. Today, more than 100 schools of Armenia are engaged in our Program through which we transmit skills and knowledge to young Armenians so that they become active and informed members of society.”