On February 21, Oshakan celebrated International Mother Language Day with a grand ceremony traditionally held by the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia. Among the participants of the event were RA Deputy Prime Minister Vache Gabrielyan, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, Governor of Aragatsotni Province Sargis Sahakyan, Head of the Department of General Education of Yerevan Municipality Gaiane Soghomonyan, Director of the Hrachya Atcharyan Institute of Language of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia Victor Katvalyan, as well as linguists and literary critics.

RA Deputy Prime Minister Vache Gabrielyan greeted the gathered and read the message of the President of the Republic of Armenia on the occasion of International Mother Language Day. RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan congratulated everyone on the occasion and particularly mentioned the following: “As you know, in 1999, the UNESCO declared the 21^st of February as International Mother Language Day. Since 2005, this day has been a special day on the national holiday calendar of the Republic of Armenia. Language is the core of the existence of a nation. The mother language needs to be protected and preserved. Language is especially a major factor for preservation of the Armenian identity abroad. It is irreplaceable in the maintenance of national unity and in the development of statehood and always needs to be in focus. We need to instill in the conscience of the public the idea that the Armenian language only pertains to us Armenians and that its preservation, purity and the limits of its use only depend on us. In that sense, I highly appreciate the fact that children and youth are participating in this event.”

The participants of the event laid flowers near the tomb of Mesrop Mashtots.

A grand event dedicated to International Mother Language Day was held at the scholars’ home adjunct to the local church. The students of Mesrop Mashtots Middle School of Oshakan recited poems and performed songs devoted to the Armenian language. The event also included performances by Persian, Arab and Indian students of Armenia, as well as Zorakan (Military) Ensemble of the RA Ministry of Defense.

Afterwards, the participants of the event visited the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts after Mesrop Mashtots (Matenadaran) and laid flowers near the statue of Mesrop Mashtots.