On September 25, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan received the choirmasters and members of Vardavar Armenian Choir (Jordan), Narek Armenian Choir (Iran), Sayat-Nova Armenian Choir (Turkey) and Aghbyur Armenian Choir (Georgia) and individual performers, who will be participating in the “We Sing Komitas” Pan-Armenian Festival.

Greeting the guests, Minister Hranush Hakobyan stated the following: “You bear and disseminate Komitas’s legacy in the Diaspora. The goal of the festival is to popularize Komitas’s art in the world, as well as preserve and enhance Armenian culture and the cultural identity of the Armenians. Thank you for accepting the invitation and coming to Armenia to take part in the “We Sing Komitas” Pan-Armenian Festival. I am certain that the preparations have gone well and that we will all witness performances of pure Armenian songs this evening.”

The Minister of Diaspora also attached importance to the festival’s role in the relations that the choirs of various Armenian communities are establishing and in their mutual recognition. She stated that national culture, song and dance are the best ways of fighting against assimilation and the loss of the linguistic and cultural identity in the Diaspora. “It is first and foremost necessary to engage young Diaspora Armenian creators in that effort,” the Minister added.

Artistic director of Jordan’s Vardavar Armenian Choir Vardouhi Toroian expressed gratitude to Minister Hranush Hakobyan and the Ministry of Diaspora for keeping the Armenian community of Jordan active and making efforts for further strengthening of relations with Armenia. “As a result of those efforts, we come to Armenia and perform Armenian songs in the homeland every year,” she stated.

Head of Iran’s Narek Armenian Choir Gita Easeri Sirusi attached importance to the conduct of such festivals in the homeland, while representative of Turkey’s Sayat-Nova Armenian Choir Tamar Neltsi stated that she was participating in the festival for the first time and was excited about the opportunity to present her art in the homeland.

At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Diaspora wished all the participants of the festival success and voiced hope that the festival would contribute to the strengthening and enhancement of Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora relations.