The 5^th Armenia-Diaspora Conference kicked off at 14:30 on 19 September and is being held with four panel sessions.

The panel session devoted to “Current Issues and Perspectives of Armenia and the Diaspora” included discussions on “Implementation of Activities with Communities by Taking Particularities of Regions into Consideration”, “Conventional Mechanisms of Pan-Armenian Organizations and their Activities”, “Mechanisms and Programs for Development of the Armenia-Diaspora Partnership” and “Formation and Activities of Pan-Armenian Professional Associations”.

The session was moderated by RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan; RA Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Arsen Karamyan; secretary of the Armenian Central Department Dikran Jinbashian (Lebanon); representative of the ARF-D South America Central Committee Khatchik Der Ghougassian; Chairman of the Lebanon Regional Committee of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party Alexan Keoshkerian; President of the Union of Armenians of Romania, Senator Varoujan Vosganian (Romania), First Vice-President of the World Armenian Congress Aram Sargsyan (Armenia); Chairman of the Homenetmen Central Committee Karnig Megerdichian (Lebanon); founding President of the AGBU Armenian Virtual College Yervand Zoryan (USA) and representative of ARS Georgia Karine Tatevosyan (Georgia).

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan stressed the fact that the Armenian State and the Diaspora need to extend a helping hand to all Armenians in emergency situations after discussing the format of assistance with the Armenian government and the Armenian Church. Hakobyan mentioned that more than 12,000 Syrian-Armenians have settled in Armenia and that the government has created all the conditions for healthcare, education, employment and training. Almost all Diaspora Armenian communities have provided moral and financial assistance to the Syrian-Armenians, including the Kessab-Armenians.

Members of the Return to Armenia Organization presented statistics on immigration to and emigration from Armenia and particularly addressed immigration to Armenia, which people talk about less than necessary.

Editor-in-Chief of California Courier newspaper Harut Sassounian (USA) talked about the need of creating a democratically elected structure that will represent the Armenian Diaspora.

President of the Union of Armenians of Romania, Senator Varoujan Vosganian (Romania) called on everyone to take pride in and use the potential of Diaspora Armenians who have already settled in their countries of residence. He talked about the issue of making a decision on presenting the nation’s issues to the international community and express a clear-cut position on issues at all levels.

President of the American University of America Armen Der-Kyureghian (Armenia) presented the University’s activities, mentioning that the American University of Armenia is the best investment that the Armenian Diaspora has made in the homeland and has had several Diaspora Armenian volunteers.

Among other speakers were Director of the Vahe Satyan Publishing House Hagop Havatian (Lebanon); secretary of the Armenian Central Department Dikran Jinbashian (Lebanon); member of the Central Committee of the AGBU Armenian Youth Association Vatche Melkonian (Lebanon); principal of Armenian Sunday Middle School N 305 of Moscow Armine Arakelyan (Russian Federation); President of the Russian-Armenian Cooperation NGO, representative of the Armenian National Committee Office of Moscow Yura Navoyan (Russian Federation); leader of the “Urartu” Union Alexander Sargsyan (Czech Republic); Director of “Diaspora” Scientific and Educational Center Suren Danielyan (Armenia) and others.

The speakers also addressed the state and municipal authorities of different countries that have recognized the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which goes to show the just position and good will of the given governments and peoples and the goal-oriented efforts of local Armenian organizations that need to be expanded and continue.

The speakers also mentioned that preservation of the Armenian language is the ultimate objective and that defense of the Western Armenian language must be viewed as the continuation of the Armenian Cause. According to the speakers, Armenia is the main center for preservation of the Armenian identity, and preservation of the identity in the Diaspora is conditioned by a strong Homeland.