On June 15, the RA Ministry of Diaspora hosted the presentation of the series of fairy tales by London-based Armenian fairy tale writer Nune Sargsyan.

In her welcoming remarks, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan particularly stated the following: “Today, Nune has become one of the most recognized Armenian children’s writers. In her fairy tales, even dragons can be kind and beautiful, and light always “wins” the struggle between light and darkness. With the help of the Institute of Language of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), Nune’s fairy tales have been adapted in the dialects of Gavar (Baiazet), Gyumri (Karno) and Artsakh. Today we are working on adapting the beloved Nune’s fairy tales in Western Armenian. Some of her fairy tales have been turned into puppet shows and are successfully presented at Tumanyan Puppet Theater and the Marionette Theater.”

With a feeling of satisfaction, the Minister emphasized that between the years 2006 and 2016, Nune has donated her books to the city and community libraries in Yerevan, the 5 orphanages in Yerevan, 29 pupils in Gyumri, 9 pupils in Stepanakert, the libraries of the Armenian centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg and the Armenian schools in London.

The Minister of Diaspora stated that one of the fairy tales by London-Armenian fairy tale writer Nune Sargsyan would be included in the 2017 Literary Diaspora Yearbook. The Literary Diaspora Yearbook is published at the initiative and upon the order of the Ministry.

The Minister attached importance to the role of the author’s family and particularly her husband, Armen Sargsyan in the success of Nune’s career. “Nune currently has three grandson, and I am certain that she first and foremost writes the fairy tale for her grandsons and writes in literary Armenian that will be easy for them to understand,” the Minister said, adding the following: “I am certain that our meeting will make us kinder and more noble and will help us love each other more and be more tolerant to each other.”

Director of the Atcharyan Institute of Language of the NAS RA Victor Katvalyan gave a speech in which he expressed his appreciation of the works of the fairy tale writer. “The best attributes are reinforced in children who grow up listening to fairy tales. Nune Sargsyan’s fairy tales show children beauty, kindness and grandeur. When the goal is sincere, even fortuity helps find a way out,” Victor Katvalyan stated.

Director of the Abeghyan Institute of Literature of the NAS RA Vardan Devrikyan emphasized that one can see the harmony between form and content in Nune Sargsyan’s fairy tales. “We see the combination of British and Armenian cultures in her fairy tales, and this makes her fairy tales more charming,” he said.

In his speech, Deputy Minister of Diaspora, literary critic Serzh Srapionyan stated that it is quite difficult to satisfy children in the 21^st century and be interesting for them. “Nune Sargsyan’s fairy tales are interesting for children, especially Armenian children. The Armenian mythology can be seen a lot in Nune’s genes,” Serzh Srapionyan said.

Head of the Department for Relations with Pan-Armenian, International and Ecclesiastical Organizations at the RA Ministry of Diaspora, repatriate Nayiri Mouradian stated the following: “I am glad that I will be adapting Nune Sargsyan’s fairy tales in Western Armenian, and I believe that if the bearers of Eastern Armenian culture are considering the adaption of their works in Western Armenian, then Western Armenian language and culture will never be lost.”

At the end, the author expressed her words of gratitude and stated the following: “I am very nervous because this encounter came as a surprise. I would like to thank the Ministry of Diaspora and especially Minister Hranush Hakobyan for the offer and the initiative to adapt my fairy tales in Western Armenian. I would definitely like to state that the Minister was right when she said that family plays a huge role in the growth of an artist. In my case, I am grateful to my childhood friend and husband, Armen, who instilled confidence in me and persuaded me to write fairy tales.”

Nune Sargsyan said even though she has also written for adults, the world of children is close to her heart. “We need to cherish the world of children and help them grow up the right way. The task of a fairy tale writer is to present all that is beautiful and all that is imaginary and help children dream. After all, a dream is the beginning of serious inventions that goes on to become a reality,” the author said.

Nune’s husband, Armen Sargsyan also gave a speech in which he mentioned that Yerevan looks more and more beautiful every time he visits the city. “I feel that my wife’s optimistic predictions are right and that we will have a totally different Armenia 50 years from now,” he noted.

Excerpts from the author’s fairy tale “Three Dragons” adapted in the dialect of Artsakh were read at the end of the event.