On December 22, the advisory board under the RA Minister of Diaspora held a subsequent session at the RA Ministry of Diaspora. There were three items on the agenda.

Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Diaspora Firdus Zakaryan delivered a report on the working plans of the Staff of the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia for the year 2016 and the issues that the advisory board under the RA Minister of Diaspora will discuss next year.

The speaker mentioned that the RA Ministry of Diaspora would be implementing programs for Diaspora Armenians’ integration, the “Ari Tun” Program for the homeland recognition of Diaspora Armenian youth, the “Diaspora” Summer School Program and the “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival next year as well. Zakaryan stressed that the Ministry of Diaspora would be allocating funds from the budget to organize cultural and educational programs, programs for Diaspora Armenians’ integration and forums, as well as programs aimed at enhancing the partnership between Armenia and the Diaspora. The speaker also presented the schedule of programs and events of the RA Ministry of Diaspora in 2016.

The minister attached importance to coordinated efforts of the staff and added that it was necessary to specify not only the periods, but also those responsible for the envisaged activities and the expected results.

Head of the Division for Relations with Pan-Armenian and International Organizations Anahit Davtyan delivered a report on the programs and events held this year with the organizations having signed memoranda of cooperation with the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

The speaker mentioned that, in execution of the assignment of the President of the Republic of Armenia, starting from 2014, the RA Ministry of Diaspora has signed memoranda of and agreements on cooperation with various pan-Armenian organizations, including the Union of Armenians of Russia and the World Armenian Congress, Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, Homenetmen, the Armenian Relief Society, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Union of Volunteer Land Defenders. Davtyan touched upon the programs and events that have been carried out within the scope of the memoranda and agreements and talked about the upcoming events for next year. Davtyan also attached importance to the annual pan-Armenian awards “For notable contribution to the preservation of the Armenian identity” held by the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians of Russia NGOs, the organizing of a conference devoted to Karo Sasuni in association with Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, the organizing of a concert tour for Hamazkayin USA Sayat-Nova Choir and Hamazkayin Montreal’s Petros Adamyan Theater Company in Armenia, the organizing of events dedicated to the 60^th anniversary of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the organizing of a ceremony dedicated to the 25^th anniversary of the Office of the Armenian Relief Society in Armenia. The speaker mentioned that in July-August 2016, the Ministry of Diaspora would be organizing a Forum for Armenian Students of High-Class Universities of the World, in association with Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, as well as the Union of Armenians of Russia, the World Armenian Congress and Homenetmen.

Head of the Department for Relations with the Near Diaspora Taron Shagoyan delivered the report of the Department. The speaker mentioned that the main area of activity of the Department is the implementation of the Support to the Near Diaspora Program, as well as providing ongoing assistance to Armenian communities in the countries of the region and ensuring their participation in the programs of the RA Ministry of Diaspora. the Department for Relations with the Near Diaspora coordinates the relations with the Armenian communities of Georgia, Turkey, Abkhazia, North Caucasus (the Republics of Adigea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Daghstan and Karachayevo-Cherkesia, Northern Osia-Alania, Southern Ossetia, Ingushetia and the Chechen Republic and the Armenian communities of Stavropol, as well as the partnership between Armenia and the Diaspora.

Summing up the last session of the year, RA 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 cooperation with all Armenian communities of the Diaspora and the need for organized and coordinated efforts of the departments of the Ministry of Diaspora..