ROA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan was in Lebanon on an official visit from December 10-14; in the evening of December 11 she was present at the solo concert of opera singer Leonora (Arevik Tanashyan), which was held at the Hagop Der Melkonian theater in Bourj Hammoud. The concert was organized by the ROA Embassy in Lebanon, the “Nor Seround” Cultural Association, the “Tekeyan” Cultural Association, the AGBU Armenian Youth Association and “Hamazkayin” Educational and Cultural Association, under the auspices of the ROA Ministry of Diaspora.

According to “Hayern Aysor”, the concert was attended by around 400 people in an enthusiastic atmosphere. Together with Seto Baghdassarian and his band, the singer performed a series of beloved popular and national songs. It’s worth noting, that the singer who was born in Gyumri and miraculously survived the earthquake, decided to donate all the proceeds of her concert to the Syrian-Armenians.

“Syria and the Syrian-Armenians have gone and are still going through difficult days. During those difficulties the Lebanese-Armenian community stood by them. You did everything you could so that the 10-15 thousand Syrians feel comfortable in this country. The motherland also welcomed almost 22,000 Syrian-Armenians, and we are doing everything so that they establish themselves in their own land”,– said the ROA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan at the end of the concert, after praising the singer’s initiative. She also enumerated the steps undertaken by the Republic of Armenia to contribute to the integration of the Syrian-Armenians who have established themselves in Armenia.

Congratulating everybody on the 25-th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, Hranush Hakobyan noted.– “the motherland is going through major changes today. The motherland is waiting for your best investments. We are not asking for charity, we want Armenia to flourish, for jobs to be created in Armenia. With 12 million Armenians we can create Armenia of our dreams. I want you to be proud because during the past 25 years we have established two Armenian states – the free and independent Armenia and our marvelous Artsakh”.

At the end, the Minister congratulated everybody for the upcoming Christmas and New Year, wishing for 2017 to bring peace and warmth. “I want for 2017 to be the year of the Armenian, the year of Artsakh, the year of our victories and progress. I want for 2017 to be the year when each and every one of you will come to Mother Armenia”,– said Hranush Hakobyan.