On June 24, the grand closing ceremony of the first stage of the “Ari Tun” Program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora was held at the “Ari Tun” Camp in Tsaghkadzor. Among the participants were RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Vahagn Melikyan, employees of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and guests.

Deputy Minister Vahagn Melikyan greeted the participants of the program, expressed gratitude to their parent and the host families for the trust and cooperation and said the following: “Dear participants, I am certain that your love for the Homeland is livelier and is becoming stronger today. The warmth that you received as you became familiar with Armenian culture and enjoyed the beauty of the nature in Armenia are important, but I think the most important thing is that you stayed with a second family, made new friends, recognized the homeland and learned Armenian. What is also important is the warm and Armenian environment in which you spent the past days. I think you will maintain strong ties. Write to each other! Communicate! Return to Armenia! Know that this is your land and country!”

Melikyan highly appreciated the efforts of the program’s organizers, teachers and the heads of brigades and expressed gratitude for the special love and devotion and generosity towards the young Diaspora Armenian boys and girls.

The first stage of the “Ari Tun” Program ended with a traditional farewell bonfire. The participants gave a concert that they had been organizing during the days of the camping event.

The first stage of the program gathered 42 Diaspora Armenian boys and girls, of which 20 were Syrian-Armenians having moved to Armenia, and the other 22 were participants from Russia, Belarus, Turkmenistan and the USA.