On October 25, through the motion of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the National Gallery of Armenia hosted the ceremony of a donation, which was held with the participation of RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan.

Romanian-Armenian journalist and translator Madeleine Karakasian donated a painting by Romanian-Armenian painter Yervand Nikoghosyan and the buckle of a 19^th century silver belt to the National Gallery of Armenia.

Director of the National Gallery of Armenia Arman Tsaturyan expressed gratitude to Madeleine Karacasian for the donation and stated that the fund of the Gallery is mainly replenished through such donations. “We thank the RA Ministry of Diaspora, which helped organize this event. At the end of the day, the landmark for all valuable items made by Armenian masters is Armenia, and I am glad that Mrs. Garagashyan returned his buckle inherited from her ancestors to the Homeland,” Tsaturyan stated.

RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan emphasized the following; “This is a good occasion for art lovers of Armenia to become familiar with the work of Yervand Nikoghosyan. Mrs. Karacasian’s donation should set an example for our other compatriots in the Diaspora to transfer the valuable samples of Armenian arts to the Homeland.” The Deputy Minister of Diaspora also praised the activities that Mrs. Garagashyan carries out to preserve the Armenian identity in Romania. “Mrs. Karacasian’s five-volume book entitled “Amongst Armenians, About Armenians” is a collection of all the articles that she has devoted to the issues of Armenians and published in various presses throughout the decades,” he added.

In her welcoming and congratulatory remarks, Madeleine Karacasian stated the following: “My dream finally came true, and I am in Armenia to participate in the 8^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists. Taking the opportunity, I wanted to donate the painting by  Yervand Nikoghosyan and the buckle of a 19^th century belt that my mother inherited to me to the National Gallery of Armenia. I am glad that the RA Ministry of Diaspora and the administration of the National Gallery of Armenia praised my initiative.”

President of the Armenia-Romania Friendship Society Hakob Arakelyan also attached importance to Mrs. Karacasian’s initiative and donated Vahan Totovents’s autobiographical novel “Life on the Roman Road” to Mrs. Karacasian.