On February 10, the Coordinating Council for Pan-Armenian Forums of Journalists held a session in the new building of the RA Ministry of Diaspora. RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan also participated in the session moderated by chairman of the Coordinating Council and editor-in-chief of Lebanon’s Aztag Daily Shahan Kantaharian.

The items on the agenda were the issues on determining the title, venue and date of the 8^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists, the topics of the speeches, as well as the organizing of the training course for journalists (part of the 2016  “Diaspora” Summer School Program) and the Program.

Editor-in-chief of Lebanon’s Khosnag magazine Hampig Mardirossian, editor-in-chief of Zartonq Daily Sevag Hagopian, editor-in-chief of Orer magazine of the Czech Republic Hakob Asatryan, U.S.-based Armenian journalist and publicist Hagop Vardivarian and President of the Union of Journalists of Artsakh Kim Gabrielyan participated in the session via long distance connection.

The Minister of Diaspora greeted all the participants of the session and said she was pleased to mention that the 8^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists would be dedicated to the 25^th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia and to the 25^th anniversary of the Independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. “Thus, the title “Armenian Statehood is the Pivot of Unity” can be considered the best title for the eighth forum,” the minister mentioned and suggested that the forum be held in Yerevan and Stepanakert from October 21 to 24.

Congratulating the minister and the entire staff on moving to a new and convenient building, Shahan Kantaharian wished the ministry success and mentioned that he agreed with the RA Minister of Diaspora on the title, date and venues for the forum. “The Coordinating Council needs to convene its sessions on time and consistently in order to organize the forum properly,” Kantaharian mentioned.

President of the Union of Journalists of Armenia Astghik Gevorgyan and Dean of the Faculty of Journalism of Yerevan State University Naghash Martirosyan mentioned that their organizations would put in all their efforts to organize the forum properly.

The editors participating in the session via long distance connection also welcomed the minister’s suggestions regarding the conduct of the forum and assured that they would regularly inform their readers about the forum through the media.

The newly appointed director of the 2016 “Diaspora” Summer School Program and Deputy Director of the Institute for Armenian Studies at Yerevan State University Mher Hovhannisyan talked about the training courses for journalists and mentioned that this year the emphasis would especially be placed on hands-on activities. “The dss.am website has been created and launched, providing complete information about all the five courses that are part of the summer school program,” the program’s director added.

Summing up the session, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan voiced hope that Diaspora Armenian media outlets would help increase the number of participants of the course for journalists and expand the geography by posting announcements about the “Diaspora” Summer School Program on their websites.