A concert dedicated to the 22^nd anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia was held at Norths Hall in Sydney on the sidelines of the Program for Support to Solutions to Key Educational and Cultural Issues Facing Australian-Armenian Communities.

The welcoming remarks of RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan addressed to the Australian-Armenian community were read by Head of the Division for Cultural, Sport and Youth Programs of the Department for All-Armenian Programs at the RA Ministry of Diaspora Greta Mnatsakanyan.

The concert featured performances by RA Distinguished Artists Leyla Saribekyan and Arsen Grigoryan, talented singer Sona Shahgeldyan, composer, exceptional ethno-jazz performer Garik Saribekyan and pianist Tatevik Hayrumyan.

Among the attendees were Prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, His Eminence, Bishop Haykazun Najarian; Father Avedis Hambartsumian; The Very Reverend of the Armenian Evangelical Church Hagop Sarkisian; pastor of the Armenian Catholic Church, Father Barsegh Susanian; President of the Multi-Cultural and Relations Committee Stepan Krkyasharian; Permanent Representative of Nagorno-Karabakh Varujan Iskenderyan; member of Ryde City Council Sarkis Yedelian, as well as representatives of community churches, parties and organizations. The more than one hour event was held in a warm atmosphere and excited the audience.

The concert ended with the blessing and good wishes of Bishop Haykazun Najarian. Najarian thanked the RA Ministry of Diaspora for organizing the event which, according to him, is an unprecedented. Najarian also congratulated the performers on their brilliant performances.

The next concert will be held in Melbourne on November 30^th.

G. Mnatsakanyan, Sydney, Australia