Dear compatriots,

It’s safe to say and affirm that the Ministry of Diaspora is the place for Diaspora Armenians to go to in Armenia. For the past five years, the ministry has been carrying out pro-national activities for the expansion and deepening of Homeland-Diaspora relations. The Ministry of Diaspora has successfully established relations in all spheres and has helped Diaspora Armenians grow to love the homeland of their ancestors and cling to it and hasn’t spared any efforts to preserve and radicalize the national identity within the Armenian communities of the Diaspora. The best evidence of this is the “Ari Tun” Program, which we had the opportunity to enjoy participating in this summer. Our students had the chance to take part in the program, take the courses, tour the country and take advantage of the opportunities to get to know the homeland, establish close ties and make friends with numerous Diaspora Armenian youth.

The Ministry of Diaspora, which was established on October 1, 2008, not only serves as a bridge between Armenia and the Diaspora, but also contributes to the activities carried out within the Armenian communities and conveys new strength, light and hope.

The creation of this state structure was very necessary for the establishment of cooperation between all Armenians. Therefore, the activities of the Ministry of Diaspora aimed at consolidating the Armenian communities and making them think of the homeland are highly appreciable.

The Ministry of Diaspora has only been around for five years, but it has very quickly flourished and has become popular in all the communities.

We congratulate the Ministry of Diaspora and Minister Hranush Hakobyan on the ministry’s 5^th anniversary. Thanks to the minister’s efforts and unconditional dedication, the ministry has reached out to all the Armenian communities of the Diaspora and has managed to do a tremendous amount of work, and we appreciate that.

We wish you good luck and more anniversaries in the years to come.

Rita Boyadjian

Director of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate

Holy Cross-Harboian High School

Lebanon