On September 21, all Armenians will be celebrating the 25^th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia. This historic event is a grand and glorious anniversary not only for Armenians in Armenia, but also all Armenians around the world.

Hayern Aysor presents the congratulatory messages of well-known figures of Armenia and Artsakh on the occasion of the holiday.

The 25^th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia is very symbolic. As I try to make certain observations from the perspective of a Diaspora Armenian, I can immediately affirm that the independence of the Republic of Armenia conceptually and substantially changed the concept of the “Diaspora”. There were more direct contacts and collaborations, especially after the establishment of the Ministry of Diaspora, and the coordinated cooperation in the major spheres and spheres of strategic significance fundamentally helped understand the concept of “Diaspora” and generally helped change the philosophy of a Diaspora Armenian.

The transition from the mindset and working procedure of community to state and of colony to pan-national conveyed a new air, new quality and opened new perspectives for Diaspora Armenians, and it would be difficult for the state to resist the challenges imposed in our days.

The Armenia-centered mindset, the emergence of the state-oriented national philosophy and the formation of spacious fields of labor deriving from that are the result of the establishment, history and achievements of the Republic of Armenia.

From now on, the “Armenia-centeredness” is of pivotal significance for our future actions, without which we, as a Diaspora, will turn into stateless and scattered communities, and often into collectivities deprived of legal strongholds to pursue our political tasks.

The Republic of Armenia fundamentally changed this unpromising situation and helped the Armenian Diaspora have a new understanding, a new philosophy, a new working procedure and new horizons.

Shahan Kantaharian

Editor-in-Chief of Lebanon’s Aztag Daily