This fall, Yerevan and Stepanakert will host the 8^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists. Ahead of the forum, Hayern Aysor’s correspondent sat down for an interview with chairperson of the Coordinating Council for Pan-Armenian Forums of Journalists and editor-in-chief of Lebanon’s Aztag Daily Shahan Kantaharian.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Kantaharian, how are preparations for the 8^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists going?

Shahan Kantaharian: We are going to be preparing in two directions. First, we will determine the topics, speeches and reports under the title of the forum. This includes precision of details and specification of the drafts of speeches and preparations. We plan on holding some discussions in order to select the right titles and to have the speakers give the right speeches because those speeches will be followed by discussions.

We have experience in doing this since all the previous three forums have been held in the same way.

We have received proposals from members of the Coordinating Council and have clarified some of those proposals. We have tried to engage speakers from different geographical areas and political circles so that everyone participates in the pan-Armenian forum. It is also important to ensure the participation of new people and new media outlets. New media outlets are being created in the newly organizing communities, and they need to be engaged in our activities. Nobody should be left out.

The second part of the preparations (hands-on activities, issues related to venue, stay and transportation) will be up to the Ministry of Diaspora.

The forum will kick off in Yerevan and will continue in Stepanakert. We already have the experience in hosting the forum in Artsakh. We all remember the 5^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists.

The 8^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists will be quite symbolic in that this year we Armenians are celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. In terms of ascertaining the field of information and the right fields of ideology and pan-national cooperation, this will be the first forum that is being organized in the year of anniversaries in Armenia and Artsakh.

The Coordinating Council is in a stage of major preparations, and there is a lot of work to do.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Kantaharian, on February 10, the Coordinating Council for Pan-Armenian Forums of Journalists held a session at the RA Ministry of Diaspora. During the session, the members of the Council selected the title for the forum, that is, “Armenian Statehood is the Pivot of Our Unity”. Is this final? What does it imply?

S. K.: Yes, it can be considered final. The title was suggested, and we all agreed. I believe it is standard. This year is a year of anniversaries, and the selected title fits in with the meaning.

The title of the forum itself implies work in a specific direction and on a specific topic. Titles are never selected by chance and are always goal-oriented. The best examples are the titles of the previous forums and the field of cooperation of media outlets that was established and grew during the Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists and in the period between forums.

Within the scope of the selected title, the activities in the field of information as a field that responds to events, activities and political issues is very important. It contributes to the formation of public opinion within the nation to a certain extent.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Kantaharian, will there be changes and innovations?

S. K.: We will work on making sure the discussions are somewhat active so that there will be more group work. At the same time, we will also try to outline new formats for discussions in order to ensure effectiveness.

The general topics of the forum are clear. The speeches have to be devoted to the topics.

In terms of speeches, efforts need to be made, even if they are long distance. The proposals need to be elaborated. The draft will be prepared, submitted to the Council members and will be finalized.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Kantaharian, if we take into consideration the experience of the previous forums, do the titles and selected topics serve their goal?

S. K.: They definitely do. I must say that the previous topics helped us achieve some progress in specific sectors. For instance, they helped us counterattack our opponents’ misinformation campaigns and activities and be somewhat enterprising and helped us prepare for the events dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide and provide the right coverage. Now, the topic is on statehood as the pivot of our unity.

I believe the selected topics are so resonant for all Armenians that they can help engage Armenians from Armenia, the Diaspora and Artsakh. This is the general principle of our approach, that is, to select a topic that will help consolidate all Armenian media around it.

Let us note that the previous forums helped not only journalists of Armenia, the Diaspora and Artsakh get to know each other, but also helped Armenians in the Diaspora get to know each other because there had not been such a big all-Diasporan event before.

The consolidation in Armenia and the organizing by the Coordinating Council adjunct to the Ministry of Diaspora of ongoing efforts helped Diaspora Armenian media outlets know themselves.

This is a very important issue. The most fundamental, the most effective and the most correct environment is the homeland, which needs to coordinate and even regulate these efforts.

Hayern Aysor: How have the previous seven forums changed all-Armenian media? Which was the greatest achievement?

S. K.: It helped shape a certain kind of independent thinking because whenever we discuss an issue from different angles, it is very important to raise awareness about the problems.

However, one of the most practical examples is that Diaspora Armenian media outlets gained partners in Armenia and Artsakh. Even the correspondents specified the materials and started providing coverage on the spot. Diaspora Armenian presses started presenting the reality in Armenia more objectively. However, unfortunately, Armenian presses aren’t providing that kind of coverage of the events taking place in the Diaspora. But I must say that the Pan-Armenian Forums of Journalists helped revitalize that.

I attach great importance to the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora triumvirate and the active efforts between the three. I believe the consistent meetings in between forums, these relations, the coordination of issues and the attempt to have an impact on the activities through certain messages had a positive impact on the formation and development of the field of pan-Armenian field.

Of course, the differences, the various viewpoints and various commentaries are enriching, but there is a second and fundamental problem. When the topic is determined, it means that there is consensus from different circles. For instance, everyone agreed that Armenian statehood is the pivot of our national unity and consolidation, and there is no disagreement on that.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Kantaharian, any task, especially a task of such capacity implies certain flaws. What have been the flaws of these forums? What has been done to fix them?

S. K.: Not counting the minor flaws and some problems with organization, which I wouldn’t like to touch upon since they are not primary, the main thing that we need to be able to do is take action after the forum. Working together, seeking paths for cooperation and adopting a methodology that will be in line with the times and methods of using this open system and the networks need to be more focused in order to make sure our work is goal-oriented.

Interview by Lusine Abrahamyan