On September 24, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan received newly elected Grand Commander of the U.S.-based Knights of Vartan Organization Gary Zamanigian, Grand Recorder Deacon Richard Norsigian, former Grand Commander Steve Krajian and the Organization’s representative in Armenia Gohar Palyan.

Greeting the guests, the Minister of Diaspora attached importance to the Ministry’s close collaboration with the Knights of Vartan and the implementation of joint cultural and educational programs. “I am very glad that you came. It was a great honor for us to see the representatives of one of the best Armenian organizations at the Armenia-Diaspora Pan-Armenian Conference. It is very important to consolidate Diaspora Armenians and strengthen their unity. We need to help preserve the Armenian language, culture, faith and families in order to preserve Armenian communities in the Diaspora. We are developing programs and projects to help the Diaspora become closer to Armenia and vice versa,” the Minister particularly stated.

The Minister presented the Support to Bordering Villages Program and suggested selecting one of the 44 villages, turning it into a village of the Knights of Vartan, renovating the local school and kindergarten and carrying out social programs.

Grand Commander of the Knights of Vartan Organization Gary Zamanigian expressed gratitude to the Minister for the meeting and added the following: “It is a great honor for us to meet you, and I would like to express our gratitude for the invitation. We participated in the panel sessions devoted to preservation of the Armenian identity during the Armenia-Diaspora Pan-Armenian Conference. They were quite comprehensive and interesting. Preservation of the Armenian identity is a priority for us. Assimilation in the Diaspora is easy and is taking place at a rapid pace since young Armenians are among foreigners and are forgetting the language. Mixed marriages are also destroying and weakening the communities. From that perspective, the issues raised during the conference are primary and very important. The Diaspora is strong with Armenia and vice versa. We accept your proposal for support to bordering villages with great pleasure and willingness.”

Senior Recorder Deacon of the Organization Richard Norsigian, who is also the chairman of the Nor Geghi Compatriotic Union, stated that he and the Organization’s members had visited Nor Geghi and are supporting the renovation of a hall at the local kindergarten. “Every year, 300-400 members of the Union gather in Detroit, participate in charities and develop future plans.”

Established in 1916, the Knights of Vartan Organization has chapters in the USA and Canada. In 2016, the Organization opened its chapter in Armenia.