On November 29, during her working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan had a meeting with the leaders and representatives of Armenian unions, organizations and communities of Belgium at the Armenian Home in Brussels. Minister Hranush Hakobyan was accompanied by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union Tatul Margaryan.

Among the participants of the meeting were pastor of the Armenians of Belgium, Fr. Archimandrite Zatik Avetikyan; RA Consul in Belgium Lianna Mkrtchyan; representative of the Armenian National Committee of Europe in the Middle East, Vice-Chairman of the Christians of the East Committee Petik Petrosyan; Chairperson of the Committee of the Armenians of Belgium Karen Tadevosyan; chairman of ARF-D Belgium Chapter Edik Kotanjyan; board member of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society Gabriel Mikaelyan; President of the European-Armenians for Armenia’s Development Society Artak Sergoyan; head of the youth organization of Belgium’s NUARD Armenian Cultural Union Shahnur Minasyan; Arman and Abel Galstyan from Liege; members of the Ani Union of Mechelen and the Mesrop Mashtots Union of Liege; board members of the Armenian Relief Society; representatives of the Armenian Social Center; employees of the RA Embassy; representatives of the local community and Armenians based in various cities.

During her nearly two-hour speech with slides, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan presented the programs and activities of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, including the “Ari Tun” Program, the “Diaspora” Summer School Program and the “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival and touched upon the “What are YOU doing for Karabakh?” pan-Armenian movement that was launched during the 8^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists.

“For years, the Armenian community of Belgium has been supporting Artsakh in different ways. From now on, we can carry out the activities together,” representative of the Armenian National Committee of Europe in the Middle East, Vice-Chairman of the Christians of the East Committee Petik Petrosyan said in an interview with Hayern Aysor and added that Minister Hranush Hakobyan had expressed gratitude to the Armenian National Committee of Europe for its efforts for Artsakh.

“The Minister gave a brilliant speech, and the attendees were very impressed with her speech. In her speech, Hranush Hakobyan urged everyone to make investments in Armenia, attached importance to the preservation of the Armenian identity abroad and stated that Diaspora Armenians need to be good citizens of their respective countries, while preserving the Armenian identity and staying true to their national roots, which is the duty of each and every Armenian,” Petik Petrosyan stated.

During the meeting, Hranush Hakobyan talked about the changes that the Government of the Republic of Armenia has made over the past few months and informed that every citizen in Armenia can feel the support of the Armenian government. The Minister also talked about the Syrian-Armenians and indicated the forms of assistance that the Armenian government is providing to the Syrian-Armenians having settled in Armenia.

After her speech, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan answered questions from the gathered.

During the meeting, Hranush Hakobyan granted the certificates of the RA Ministry of Diaspora to the two teachers of the Levon Shant Armenian School of Mechelen, Liana Melkonyan and Hripsime Harutyunyan. Karen Tadevosyan received a certificate of appreciation for the Armenian community of Belgium.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Kingdom of Belgium and to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union Tatul Margaryan expressed gratitude to Minister Hranush Hakobyan and the Ministry for their activities.

In his speech, pastor of the Armenians of Belgium, Fr. Archimandrite Zatik Avetikyan also expressed gratitude to Minister Hranush Hakobyan, appreciated the efforts of the Minister and the Ministry and attached importance to the cooperation between Armenia and the Diaspora. Fr. Archimandrite Zatik Avetikyan granted a commemorative gift of the Armenian community of Belgium to the Minister.

The meeting was followed by a reception during which the attendees had the chance to talk to the Minister.

“I also had an opportunity to talk briefly with the Minister. She asked about the current situation in Syria,” Petik Petrosyan said.

Before the meeting, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan had visited the one-day Armenian school of the Armenian Home and had held private talks with the school’s principal Albert Ohanyan