On April 28, the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia held a teleconference with representatives of the Armenian communty of Udmurtia. Among the participants from Armenia were RA Deputy Ministers of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan and Vahagn Melikyan, Advisor to the Minister Stepan Petrosyan and employees of the Ministry.

Among the participants from Udmurtia were President of the Urartu Armenian Community  of the Udmurtia Division of the Union of Armenians of Russia Mnatsakan Arakelyan; Vice-President, businessman Andranik Mirzoyan; Minister for National Policy Affairs of Udmurtia Larisa Buranova; Deputy of the State Council of the Republic of Udmurtia Karen Manukyan; Deputy Secretary of “Единая Россия” (Yedinaya Rosia) Party in Oktyabrsk Oblast Arthur Davtyan; historian of the State University of Udmurtia, Professor Vladimir Avetisyan; Chairman of Committee of the Youth Parliament of the Republic of Udmurtia Vahe Karapetyan; journalist Samvel Sargsyan; world silver medalist, armwrestling champion of the Russian Federation Zhirayr Gabrielyan; teachers of the local Armenian Sunday school, as well as members of Garni Armenian Dance Ensemble and the community.

The representatives of Udmurtia started the teleconference with a musical greeting and the performance of Garni Armenian Dance Ensemble.

Advisor to the Minister of Diaspora Stepan Petrosyan stated that a community of Armenians speaking Armenian and performing Armenian dances so well simply had to be consolidated and provided with an Armenian upbringing. He expressed his greetings to the participants in Udmurtia and attached importance to the active and coordinated efforts of the community.

Minister for National Policy Affairs of Udmurtia Larisa Buranova touched upon the level of organization and patriotism of the Armenians of Udmurtia and noted that the Armenians of Udmurtia make great contributions in almost all sectors in the country. She added that the Armenian community of Udmurtia is a center for peace and safety.

President of the Urartu Armenian Community of the Udmurtia Division of the Union of Armenians of Russia Mnatsakan Arakelyan assured that the members of the community maintained strong ties with Armenia and actively participated in pan-Armenian initiatives and movements. He stated that the Armenians set an example for the representatives of many nations. “We have created a small Armenia, but we really miss Armenia. Longing is the worst thing that we took with us when we were leaving Armenia,” he added.

Head of the Department of All-Armenian Programs at the RA Ministry of Diaspora Gagik Gyanjumyan presented the “Ari Tun” Program and “Diaspora” Summer School Program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the “We Sing Komitas” Pan-Armenian Festival and said it was important for the community to show more active participation in the programs and the festival.

The speakers representing the Armenian community of Udmurtia talked about their completed activities, asked their questions of concern and assured that they would show more active participation in the Ministry’s programs this year.

Summing up the teleconference, the Advisor to the Minister of Diaspora expressed gratitude for the questions and answered them in detail.

Based on official statistics, there are 2,830 Armenians living in the Republic of Udmurtia, and based on non-official statistics-nearly 4,000 Armenians.

In 1995, the Armenians of Udmurtia opened the Ruben Melikyan Armenian Sunday School in Izhevsk. The school offers lessons on Armenian language, literature and history and has branhces in different parts of the country. The I. Pastukhov Library in Izhevsk has an Armenian literature section. The community also has the Garni Armenian Dance Group and a football team.