On July 4, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan received members of the Lebanon Regional Committee of Tekeyan Cultural Association and Lebanese teen musicians who are in Armenia to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the founding body of the Tekeyan Cultural Association in Lebanon.

The 70^th anniversary events are organized by the Lebanon Regional Committee of Tekeyan Cultural Association.

One of the events is the July 6 concert, which is entitled “Armenian Music Performed by the Lebanese”, sponsored by the RA Ministries of Diaspora and Culture and will be held in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Lebanon. From July 7 to 10, the Museum of History of Yerevan will host the “4 Generations: Spirit of Determination”, which is sponsored by the RA Ministry of Diaspora and will be held in partnership with the RA Embassy in Lebanon.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan greeted the guests and highly appreciated the centuries-old Armenian-Lebanese friendship. “With open arms, Lebanon received the sons of the Armenian nation having escaped the Armenian Genocide and ensured conditions for them to live and create. Today, our compatriots living in Lebanon have become the best citizens of the country and make their contributions to the country’s development,” the Minister mentioned.

The Minister expressed gratitude to Chairman of Tekeyan Cultural Association Lebanon Regional Committee Vicken Assilian for carrying out activities aimed at preserving the Armenian identity in Lebanon and for celebrating the 70^th anniversary of the establishment of the founding body of the Tekeyan Cultural Associations of Lebanon in the Homeland.

The Minister of Diaspora also attached importance to the activities of Editor-in-Chief of Lebanon’s Zartonk Armenian Daily Sevag Hagopian and stated that the hard work of the editor conveyed new air to the daily newspaper and made it more resonant.

Touching upon the cultural relations between Armenia and Lebanon, the Minister emphasized that they are growing stronger every year. On July 6, the Lebanon Regional Committee of Tekeyan Cultural Association is organizing a concert entitled “Armenian Music Performed by the Lebanese” at Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall. The concert will feature performances of the works of great Armenian composers (Komitas, Khachaturian, Babajanyan, Hovhannisyan and other composers) by 9 Arab teen musicians and 1 Armenian teen musician.

Talking about the “4 Generations: Spirit of Determination” exhibition-sale to be held on 7-10 July at the Museum of History of Yerevan at the initiative of Lebanese-Armenian painter Lena Aydinian, the guests noted that the exhibition will showcase the works of Sahag, Arpine and Sarin Vosgians, Tania and Lena Aydinian and Seleen Chaghlasian. Part of the proceeds from the exhibition-sale to be held as part of the “What are YOU doing for Artsakh?” pan-Armenian movement of the RA Ministry of Diaspora will go to the needy families of freedom fighters killed during the Artsakh war.

Minister Hranush Hakobyan wished member of Lebanon Regional Committee of Tekeyan Cultural Association Lena Balkjian great success at the exhibition-sale in Armenia and expressed confidence that the paintings would be accepted and loved by the demanding artists of Armenia.

Vicken Assilian and his wife, pianist Rita Assilian (artistic director of the “Armenian Music Performed by the Lebanese” concert) expressed their words of gratitude and noted that even though they live in Lebanon, they feel the support of the Ministry of Diaspora to their initiatives every day. “Today you helped us organize the events dedicated to the 70^th anniversary of the Association in the Homeland. The Ministry of Diaspora is truly our home,” Vicken Assilian stated.

“The organizing of the “4 Generations: Spirit of Determination” in the Homeland is helping me turn my biggest dream and my grandfather’s biggest dream into a reality. Words can’t describe how I feel,” Lena Balkjian added.

The Arab and Armenian teens stated that they are visiting Armenia for the first time and are impressed with the warm hospitality.