Ahead of the 8^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists to be held on 20-24 October with the title “Armenian Statehood: Axis of Unity”, Hayern Aysor’s correspondent sat down for an interview with President of the All-Armenian Media Association, Director of Noyan Tapan News/Analytical Center Tigran Harutyunyan.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Harutyunyan, what is the general purpose of the Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists?

Tigran Harutyunyan: Consolidation of Armenian journalists and the heads of Armenian media outlets is one of the key objectives of the All-Armenian Media Association. Since 2002, the Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists has been held with the purpose of achieving that objective. The forum gathers media representatives of Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora, and one of the other objectives is to promote solidarity between Armenian media outlets of the world and help form an atmosphere for joint implementation of activities. As a result, the Armenian media outlets achieve the solution to issues of national concern through coordinated efforts and mutual agreements. All Armenians know the issues of national concern. Those issues are the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the fair settlement and correct presentation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the establishment and strengthening of Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora relations in the economic, cultural and other spheres and relations within the Diaspora, Armenia’s economic empowerment and increase in the level of international involvement, the functioning of democracy in Armenia and the reinforcement of statehood of the Republic of Armenia.

I am certain that the joint efforts of all Armenian media outlets around the world can only help the free and democratic Armenia become a cultural and ideological center, as well as help preserve and disseminate Armenian cultural values, create a pan-Armenian field of information and provide media outlets with the opportunity to exchange news.

Hayern Aysor: What results have been achieved to this day? What achievements have been made?

T. H.: The first Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists was held in 2002 in Europe and was entitled “The First European-Armenian Media Forum”.

This forum was followed by the All-Armenian Media Forums held in Armenia in 2003 and in 2006. It was during the second forum (Tsaghkadzor, 2003) when an idea was born to establish the All-Armenian Media Association, and the idea turned into a reality during the third forum (Tsaghkadzor, 2006). We also created the Hayern Aysor (Armenians Today) electronic newsletter, which went on to become the official newspaper of the RA Ministry of Diaspora following establishment of the Ministry. The relations between media outlets in different countries became stronger during the forums held by the Association and during the following forums throughout the next ten years, and as a result, the cooperation was expanded, more media outlets exchanged information, etc.

Whereas the first forums were held thanks to the enthusiasm of the organizers (mainly the Noyan Tapan News Center) and the financial assistance of various sponsors, starting from the fourth forum, the Republic of Armenia (the Ministry of Culture in the beginning and later the Ministry of Diaspora) began to assist in the implementation of the pan-Armenian forums.

The organizers started dedicating the forums to specific topics. The topic of the fifth forum was “Challenges of the 21^st Century: Information Security and Armenian Journalism”. The title of the sixth forum was “Ahead of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide”, and the seventh forum was devoted to propaganda, anti-propaganda and information security.

Hayern Aysor: What are your expectations from the upcoming 8^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists? Where do you think the cooperation between the media outlets of Armenia and the Diaspora are headed?

T. H.: The 8^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists (“Armenian Statehood: Axis of Unity”) will be held on 20-24 October. It will be launched in Yerevan and will end in Stepanakert. I believe choosing Yerevan and Stepanakert as the axis is symbolic and, to a certain extent, conveys a message that is clear. Over 100 media outlets of foreign countries have already applied to participate in the forum. The forum will be broadcast live on the Internet and will allow Diaspora Armenian journalists to participate in the forum, ask questions, make proposals and give speeches online. In fact, this online broadcast is the result of the business relations established and the joint programs created during the previous forums.

I must also mention the fact that all the materials of the forum (adopted declarations, speeches, video recordings) will be summed up on the website of the All-Armenian Media Association at www.mediaforum.am, as in previous years.

I think this forum will serve as the next major step for enhancing the relations and effective cooperation between Armenian media outlets around the world. I hope to see more media outlets join the All-Armenian Media Association (as in the past), the creation of new programs and the establishment of directions for the implementation of activities.

Gevorg Chichyan