On September 26, at the initiative of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the Division for Armenian Studies and Social Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), namely academician-secretary Yuri Suvaryan, and Haigazian University of Beirut, namely President, the Very Rev. Dr. Paul Haytostian, concluded a memorandum of cooperation.

Attaching importance to the fact that the conclusion of the memorandum will give a new impetus to the existing partnership and the efforts being made, the parties agreed on carrying out joint studies and research, organizing joint seminars and conferences, online roundtable discussions, developing and implementing joint educational programs, the exchanges of professionals, etc.

Congratulating the parties on the inauguration of activities aimed at preserving Armenology in a new format of cooperation, RA Acting Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan expressed confidence that the conclusion of the memorandum would contribute to the strengthening of scientific and educational ties between Armenia and the Diaspora, scientific research on the problems of the modern Armenian Diaspora, the preparation and training of young specialists in the field of Diaspora studies, professional improvement and the exchange of experience.

The RA Acting Minister of Diaspora highly appreciated the role of President of Haigazian University of Beirut Paul Haytostian in providing services for the Armenia-Diaspora partnership, his achievements in providing the young generation of Armenians with an Armenian education and upbringing, helping increase Armenia’s reputation and make it recognized through his professional activities, as well as for promoting the preservation of the Armenian identity.

Acting Minister Hranush Hakobyan awarded Paul Haytostian with the Gold Medal of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, expressing certainty that, with his flexibility and providence, the President of Haigazian University would continue to keep the reputation of Armenian science, education and culture high in Lebanon, which is considered a crater of cultures in the Near East.

In his speech, academician-secretary of the Division for Armenian Studies and Social Sciences of the NAS RA Yuri Suvaryan highly appreciated the contributions of the RA Ministry of Diaspora to the strengthening and rapprochement of bonds between Armenological centers in Armenia and abroad.

Paul Haytostian expressed his words of gratitude. “The active efforts of the Ministry of Diaspora have always been inspiring for me, and one of the results of those efforts is the conclusion of this memorandum,” he stated, adding: “I am thankful for receiving the high award of the Ministry. Haigazian University has many missions, but I consider the preservation of the Armenian identity the major mission. Haigazian University already has plans to work with the Institutes of Armenian Studies of the NAS RA and organize conferences promoting the development of Armenology. We will expand opportunities for the exchange of experiences and the preparation and training of specialists.”

Among other speakers were the Directors of the Institutes of Literature, the Arts and Oriental Studies of the NAS RA Vardan Devrikyan, Ararat Aghasyan and Ruben Safrastyan and Director of the Armenian Diaspora Research Center of Haigazian Univeristy Antranik Dakessian, who emphasized the importance of such initiatives for the development of Armenology.