During a press conference devoted to the events dedicated to the 110^th anniversary  of the Armenian General Benevolent Union taking place in Armenia on 2 December, AGBU President Berge Setrakian recapped the activities that have been carried out over the past ten years and presented the strategy and directions for the next decade.

“Over the past decade, the issues of concern were the wars in Iraq and Syria that fundamentally undermined the foundations of the Armenian communities of Iraq and Syria. The Armenians of those countries became scattered across the globe, and they also settled in the Mother Homeland. Of course, this had begun in the 1970s when the communities considered the backbone of the Armenian Diaspora experienced a great shock after the Lebanese Civil War,” Berge Setrakian said, adding that the Armenian authorities took advantage of all of their opportunities and made efforts to receive the Armenians in dire conditions and warmly opened their doors for them, and the Armenian people also supported the Armenians from Iraq and Syria.

Berge Setrakian emphasized the fact that, unfortunately, the undermining of the major communities in the Near East (considered the force and base for the Armenian communities from different perspectives) caused a severe blow to young Armenians. As the latter settle in different countries, they are losing their national image and the national identity and are facing the danger of assimilation. This is as troubling as emigration from Armenia.

“By carrying out various cultural, educational and pro-national programs abroad, we need to help young Armenians preserve their national identity so that they become strongly attached to Armenia and never leave the homeland. So, in the globalizing world, as one nation and one people, our common concern will be to stabilize the economic situation in Armenia. We need to have a homeland that will attract young Armenians. Our future lies in the new generation. For the next ten years, the AGBU will continue to look towards the Homeland. We will continue to support Armenia by all means, and we will feel happy and proud. The main basis is having a strong Homeland, and we are going to build that Homeland together,” the AGBU President emphasized.

Berge Setrakian touched upon the stagnating Armenian organizations of the Diaspora that need to revitalize their activities, revise their priorities and maintain relations with the Homeland.

The AGBU President also talked about the activities of the Armenian Church aimed at preserving the Armenian identity in the Diaspora, the pivotal significance of preservation of national and spiritual values and called on strengthening the partnership between Armenia, the Diaspora and the Church as a major national mission.

“Today, from the strategic perspective, the Church must train young clergymen who are smart and presentable. “One Nation, One People, One Diaspora, One Church”-this is the idea that should guide us and help us support Armenia’s empowerment,” AGBU President Berge Setrakian concluded.

Gevorg Chichyan