On February 10, the Coordinating Body for Pan-Armenian Forums of Journalists held its first session of the year at the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia. The session was chaired by Minister Hranush Hakobyan. Among the participants were Editor-in-Chief of Lebanon’s Aztag Daily and chairman of the Coordinating Body for Pan-Armenian Forums of Journalists Shahan Kandaharian; President of the Union of Journalists of Armenia Astghik Gevorgyan; President of the All-Armenian Media Association Tigran Harutyunyan; Dean of the Faculty of Journalism at Yerevan State University Naghash Martirosyan; Professor of the YSU Faculty of Journalism and President of the “Armenian PR Association” NGO Astghik Avetisyan and correspondent for California Courier Ruzanna Avagyan.

Among those participating in the session via long distance were Editor-in-Chief of Lebanon’s Khosnag magazine Hampig Mardirosian; Editor-in-Chief of Prague’s Orer magazine Hakob Asatryan; Editor-in-Chief of Lebanon’s Zartonk Daily Sevag Hagopian and Editor-in-Chief of Canada’s Horizon Weekly Vahakn Karakashian.

Greeting the participants of the session, Minister Hranush Hakobyan attached importance to the daily and coordinated efforts of Diaspora Armenian journalists, their constant relations and active responses to the initiatives of the Ministry. The Minister particularly stressed the wide coverage of the “What are YOU doing for Karabakh?” pan-Armenian movement and the reactions that it sparked among all Armenians around the world. “Thank you for posting my letter addressed to the Armenian Diaspora on your respective websites and for organizing events. We received over 100 video clips in which Armenian celebrities conveyed their messages addressed to Armenian soldiers on the occasion of the 25^th anniversary of the formation of the Armenian Army. This gave us great strength and motivated us to declare the year 2017 as the Year of Artsakh,” the Minister particularly stated.

The Minister also touched upon the extradition of Lapshin and said it was necessary to work with Armenian journalists working for foreign language media outlets in a more coordinated manner.

Chairman of the Coordinating Body for Pan-Armenian Forums of Journalists Shahan Kandaharian also expressed his greetings to the participants, seconded the Minister and said it was important to examine the comments and suggestions of the participants of the 8^th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists in detail.

RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan delivered a report on the “What are YOU doing for Karabakh?” pan-Armenian movement and coverage of the “2017 as the Year of Artsakh” topic in Diaspora Armenian presses. This was the second item on the agenda.

Current issues were also discussed during the session.