The advisory board adjunct to the RA Minister of Diaspora held a subsequent session on June 26.

The agenda included three items. Head of the Department of Information and Telecommunication of the RA Ministry of Diaspora V. Vardanyan talked about the implementation of the “Development of Informative and Instructive Websites” approved by Decision N 211-N of the Government of the Republic of Armenia of 10 March 2011. Talking about the functions of the Department, the speaker mentioned: “The issue of preservation and dissemination of the Armenian language is an issue on the agenda. Most Diaspora Armenians aren’t fluent or are partially fluent in the native language. The e-library of the RA Ministry of Diaspora (www.libmindiaspora.am), the Virtual Museum of the Armenian Diaspora (www.armdiasporamuseum.com), the Eastern Armenian-Western Armenian Converter (now ISMA Internet Language Center), www.translator.am and the Hayern Aysor daily electronic newspaper of the RA Ministry of Diaspora (www.hayernaysor.am) have been developed and operate through the “Development and Services of News and Instructive Websites”. Every month, 3,000-500 pages of materials are updated and posted in the e-library. The “World Literature” section of the website is new, and we have started posting the Armenian versions of various works.

The website of the Virtual Museum of the Armenian Diaspora was created and launched on the occasion of the 20^th anniversary of the Independence of Armenia in 2012. The goal of the website is to present the history of the Armenian people, the present and the vision for the future, the issues facing the Republic of Armenia and all Armenians around the world, guided by the slogans “Armenians are one nation, regardless of residence” and “Armenia is the Homeland of all Armenians”.

The speaker also touched upon the creation of a new format for online multilingual dictionaries, which are considered the key to solving the issue related to preservation of the Armenian language in different sectors of the Armenian Diaspora and are posted next to the functions of the Internet converter at www.translator.am. Today, on the average, 25,000-30,000 people visit the website every month.

Vardanyan also talked about the Hayern Aysor electronic newspaper of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, which has published nearly 4,200 pieces of news, 240 articles and analyses, as well as 144 interviews.

Head of the Department of All-Armenian Programs Gagik Gyanjumyan delivered a report on the preparations for the 2015 “Diaspora” Summer School Program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and particularly mentioned the following: “The year 2015 marks the fourth year that the RA Ministry of Diaspora is carrying out the program with Yerevan State University. More and more people apply to participate in the program every year. The summer school program is becoming one of the programs in demand in the Armenian Diaspora.

Whereas there were 131 participants instead of the 70 participants in 2012, in 2013, there were 201 Diaspora Armenians instead of 100, in 2014, there were 222 Diaspora Armenian participants instead of 100, and in 2015, there will be 250 Diaspora Armenians participating in the program.”

Summing up, Gagik Gyanjumyan mentioned that alongside the trainings and practical lessons, the participants will also take part in events, visit museums, have meetings and go sightseeing. The “Diaspora” Summer School Program will begin with the launch of an Armenian language course and will end with the handing of certificates during a ceremony to be held on August 1.”

Head of the Department of Repatriation and Research Grigor Arshakyan delivered a report on the activities carried out over the past two years.

The speaker touched upon the forums, conferences and discussions held in the reporting period.IN 2014, the Department held a roundtable discussion entitled “Issues of Islamized Armenians”, a meeting with the leaders and representatives of Armenian Genocide Centennial Regional Committees in Europe and a meeting with members of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Regional Committees.

Arshakyan also touched upon the 5^th Armenia-Diaspora Conference.

Arshakyan talked about the fifth wide-format session of the State Commission on Coordination of the events for the commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the global forum “Against the Crime of Genocide” and the international conference on the “International Legal Issues on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide and Liability”.

The speaker also touched upon the studies that are conducted on a regular basis. He mentioned that references to the key issues of Armenian communities, Armenians and issues of pan-Armenian significance are drafted and presented during weekly studies. The Department also studies and examines recognition of the Armenian Genocide in different countries and the processes taking place.

Summing up the session, Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan touched upon the activities carried out over the past month, the flaws and achievements and attached importance to the close ties and collaboration between the Armenian communities of the Diaspora, as well as the organized and coordinated efforts of the departments in order to ensure the communities’ active participation in the programs of the RA Ministry of Diaspora.