The event dedicated to the 7^th anniversary of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and the grand ceremony of oath of civil servants of the ministry on October 2. Among the participants were Speaker of the RA National Assembly Galust Sahakyan, representatives of state, non-governmental, pan-Armenian and religious organizations, as well as artists and intellectuals.

In the morning, employees of the RA Ministry of Diaspora visited Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex and Yerablur Military Pantheon where they laid flowers near the monuments to the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide and to Armenian freedom fighters.

The ceremony began with a blessing by Father Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, followed by the ceremony of oath of 11 civil servants having won the civil service tender and having passed the established probation period.

Speaker of the RA National Assembly Galust Sahakyan handed the certificates to the civil servants.

The Speaker of the RA National Assembly congratulated all the civil servants on assuming office and the RA Ministry of Diaspora on its 7^th anniversary.

“The working environment at this ministry is truly cordial. The events dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenia Genocide were held through the absolutely combined efforts of Armenians living in four corners of the globe, and this was first and foremost due to the efforts of the RA Ministry of Diaspora. The ministry is taking serious steps to suspend the decline of Western Armenian and preserve that ramification of our language,” the Speaker of the National Assembly mentioned, adding: “The young Diaspora Armenians visiting the Homeland through the programs of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, particularly the “Ari Tun” Program convey new life and spirit to the capital.”

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan gave a welcome speech.

“I congratulate the new civil servants on assuming office, as well as the entire staff of the RA Ministry of Diaspora on the 7^th anniversary of the ministry. We began our journey by overcoming difficulties and understanding that there are several challenges that we shouldn’t be afraid of, but work hard to overcome. We are especially grateful to all the pan-Armenian organizations of the Diaspora who trusted us and collaborated with us,” the minister particularly mentioned.

The minister expressed gratitude to all the intellectuals and cultural figures who put in all their efforts to help the ministry advance. “One of the most talented of them, Tigran Mansurian, is here today and is celebrating the anniversary of the RA Ministry of Diaspora with us,” the minister mentioned.

The minister expressed special gratitude to all the government agencies that have collaborated with the ministry and to the Armenian diplomats for the activities that they carry out within Armenian communities.

Chairman of the Civil Service Council Manvel Badalyan expressed his words of appreciation.

Composer Tigran Mansurian recalled Shahan Shahnur’s novel “Retreat Without a Song” and mentioned that the objective of the RA Ministry of Diaspora is to stop that retreat. “I’m happy that young Diaspora Armenians get excited about visiting Armenia through your programs. The seven-year journey for a state organization could only be a journey to advancement, but today we see the great amount of work that has been done for preservation of the Armenian identity.”

Chairman of Homenetmen Central Committee Karnig Meguerdichian, Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Armenian Relief Society Vickie Marashlian, Director of the Armenian Representation of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Hovik Yordekyan, Vice-Presidents of the World Armenian Congress Aram Sargsyan and Vladimir Aghayan and President of the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO Lena Haladjian praised the activities of the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

The ceremony included poetry and performances by Anahit Sahakyan, Vladimir Aharonyan, the Tsaghkazard Ensemble and Jivan Sargsyan.