On August 26, a charity concert was held at Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall under the initiative of Kessab Compatriotic Union and with the support of the RA Ministry of Diaspora. All proceeds will go to restoration of the Armenian School of Kessab where there are 200 Kessab-Armenian schoolchildren.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan was also attending the concert. Greeting the event organizers, as well as the artists and the audience, the minister attached importance to the organizing of such events aimed at supporting our devastated compatriots, awakening the spirit of patriotism and bringing the nation together. The minister particularly said: “Kessab is a particle of Cilician Armenia, the bearer and inheritor of its high culture and heroic spirit. We have to preserve the high culture of Kessab and the community that has great traditions. We have to support the restoration of the devastated schools and community organizations and provide moral support to our compatriots having undergone many trials and tribulations.”

The concert was hosted by well-known hosts Nazeni Hovhannisyan and Avet Barseghyan.

The concert included performances by singer Mro (Arsen Grigoryan) and the “Sasna Tsrer” Song-Dance Ensemble, as well as well-known pop stars such as Andre, Arminka, Emmi, Sofi Mkheyan, Gohar Hovhannisyan, Aramo, Erik, Martin Aharonyan and Aghasi Ispiryan and ended with a performance of the “Berd” dance by InterDance Dance Ensemble.

The event was organized with the support of the administration of Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, ATD and 3point.

Kessab Compatriotic Union was established on 6 April 2014 by the inheritors of Armenians of Kessab who had repatriated in 1946-47. The organization has set the goal to consolidate Kessab-Armenians in Armenia and abroad, as well as help improve the financial situation of Kessab-Armenians living in Kessab and those who have moved to Armenia as a result of the latest developments, provide them with moral and legal support, preserve the cultural heritage of Kessab, carry out different kinds of social, economic, educational, health-related and charity programs in order to mitigate the problems facing our compatriots in need.