On July 7, the results of the annual competition “For Notable Contribution to Preservation of the Armenian Identity” for the year 2016 were summed up during a solemn ceremony held at the RA Ministry of Diaspora. The competition was jointly organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians of Russia.

The 2016 Awards were held in the following categories: “Defender of the Mother Language”, Best Armenian School, Best Article Dedicated to the 25^th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Contest for Diaspora Armenian Media and children’s essay contest entitled “I Love You, My Homeland!”

Director of the Christian Education Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Bishop Vardan Navasardyan gave his blessing to the participants.

In her welcoming remarks, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan stated the following: “I am glad that the Awards “For Notable Contribution to Preservation of the Armenian Identity” have become traditional. The goal of the Awards is to value the contributions that Diaspora Armenian organizations and individuals have made to preservation of Armenian identity and culture abroad, as well as appreciate the activities of Armenian communities, cultural and educational institutions and media outlets. In 2016, all Armenians around the world celebrated the 25^th anniversary of Independence of Armenia and Artsakh. Armenian children were very excited as they wrote essays and created paintings that were devoted to the topic. With this competition, we also wanted to express our gratitude to all the media outlets that provided more coverage of the events dedicated to the 25^th anniversary of Independence.”

Attaching importance to the partnership of the RA Ministry of Diaspora with the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians of Russia, Minister Hranush Hakobyan stated the following: “This partnership serves as a brilliant example of effective cooperation between a government agency and non-governmental organizations. Through that partnership, we are able to award and encourage more sons of the Armenian nation. I congratulate all the participants since their participation is already a victory.”

Minister Hranush Hakobyan expressed gratitude to the committees for all the categories and stated that their work was difficult and responsible. She highly appreciated the role of Armenian teachers in preservation of the Armenian identity. “Armenian teachers keep Armenian schools of the Diaspora standing. As long as Armenian schools are operating, the Armenian community will remain solid,” the Minister added.

The Minister cordially spoke about the Syrian-Armenian members of Cafesjian Center and emphasized that in spite of the Syrian conflict, the Armenian community of Syria also showed active participation in the 2016 Awards.

In his welcoming remarks, First Vice-President of the World Armenian Congress Vladimir Aghayan transmitted the speech of Ara Abrahamyan. “The annual competitions that we organize with the Ministry of Diaspora serve as one of the best ways of preserving the Armenian identity. Armenia is the symbol of preservation of the Armenian identity, and all Diaspora Armenians have their eyes set on the Homeland,” Vladimir Aghayan stated.

Among the participants were 197 individuals and organizations from 24 countries. Out of the participants, 177 applicants received prizes and diplomas, of which 68 received prizes (2 grand prizes), 66 received the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd degree awards, and 109 received encouraging prizes.

The awards were granted by RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, President of the Union of Journalists of Armenia Astghik Gevorgyan and Director of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia Ashot Melkonyan.

“Defender of the Mother Language” (individuals) category: First Prize: Vahik Satoorian (USA), Aelita Mirakyan (Russia), Suren Bayramian (Egypt), Krikor Amirzaian (France) and Vachagan Rstakyan (Georgia). Second Prize: Koharig Kotchikian (Kuwait), Beatrice Srabian (Argentina), Ruzanna Tatoulian (Great Britain), Haiastan Mneyan (Kazakhstan) and Zoya Arzumanyan (Russia). Third Prize: Sona Titizian-Kedigian (Canada), Shoushanig Semerjiani (Greece), Arman Sheref-Kevork (France), Manuk Mkrtchyan (the Netherlands), Garo Arslanian and Maral Hamboian (Kuwait), Mariana Bertizlian (Syria), Asya Madoyan, Varduhi Yeghiazaryan and Aghavni Gogoryan (Russia), Manushak Vardanyan (Georgia), Sargis Aghajanyan (Ukraine), Anush Chakhalyan (Germany), Violeta Tashjian (Cyprus) and Norayr Taturyan (USA). Encouraging diplomas were awarded to 16 Armenians from Argentina, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Ukraine, Turkmenistan and Russia.

Best Armenian School: First Prize: Armenian School of Kuwait, Rose & Alex Pilibos Armenian School (USA), the school adjunct to the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Turkmenistan, Hovhannes Tumanyan Armenian Secondary School (Georgia). Second Prize: G. Tahtaian Armenian Sunday School (London), Charlotte and Eliza Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School (USA) and “Armenians of Puatu” Armenian organization (France). Third Prize: “Surp Grigor Lusavorich” educational institution (Argentina), Khachatur Abovyan Armenian Sunday School (the Netherlands) and Ararat Armenian Sunday School (Russia). Encouraging awards were granted to 12 Armenians from the Netherlands, Greece, Estonia, Spain, France, Russia, India and Kazakhstan.

Best Article Dedicated to the 25^th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic: First Prize: “News about Armenians” news website and Zham magazine of Russia. Awards were also granted to Spain’s Hairenik Weekly, Cyprus’s Gibrahayer electronic newspaper, France’s Radio A and Hungary’s 4^th Channel Armenian program.

“I Love You, My Homeland!” category: First Prize: Andrey Savadyan, Komitas Karapetyan, Nelly Mkhitaryan, Tigran Gasparyan, Arkady Kosyan, Marieta Chalikyan, Arpine Bakunts and Loreta (Russia), Elen Gasparyan (France), Patil Zeretsian and Avedis Dekirmenjian, Ghevond Kasouni, Vardi Kechejian, Serly Zeretsian, Ara Sarkisian, Sonoia Anna Mouradian (Kuwait), Arin Balin Pilibbosian Arshil Arakelian, Saro Ajemian, Rita Arslanian, Talia Gahuejian (Syria), Elizabeth Arakelian and Elen Gasparian (France), Elizabeth Mkhitaryan (Italy), Helena Musheghyan and Arianna Gevorgyan (Germany), Benjamin Harutyunyan and Sofia Boyajyan (Finland). Encouraging awards were granted to 81 Armenians from France, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Russia, Syria and Kuwait.

Cypriot-Armenian Violeta Tashjian, Greek-Armenian Shoushanig Semerjian and students of the Armenian Sunday school in the Russian city of Saratov transferred their prize money to the Artsakh Fund and the family of one of the soldiers killed in the Four-Day Artsakh War in April 2016.

Expressing gratitude to the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the Union of Armenians of Russia and the World Armenian Congress for organizing the competition, Director of the Armenian Sunday school in the Russian city of Saratov Nune Bareghamyan stated the following: “This is a very touching moment for me. This award is more valuable for me since it was granted to me in the Homeland. I would like to thank the Ministry of Diaspora for supporting all our initiatives. Our children are cordially donating their prize money to the family of one of the soldiers killed in the Four-Day Artsakh War. In our turn, we wish to donate the painting of one of our talented students, Laura Khachatryan as a token of appreciation.”

The participants also viewed photos and watched videos showing the results of the 2016 Awards, the words of gratitude of the winning participants, as well as the ceremonies summing up the results of the Awards of the previous years.

The event also featured performances by the members of the Cultural Center of Yerevan State University.