On December 19, 134 musical instruments were granted to 14 bordering villages of Tavush Province, 2 bordering villages of Gegharkunik Province and 2 bordering villages of Vayots Dzor Province during an event held at the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia.

Among the attendees of the ceremony were RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan; Deputy Minister Serzh Srapionyan; Chief of Staff Firdus Zakaryan; heads of the departments of education, culture and sport of the regional governor’s offices of the Governors of Gegharkunik and Shirak Provinces Garik Badalyan and Hrayr Karapetyan; heads of the Voskepar, Vazashen, Verin Karmiraghbyur and Koghb villages of Tavush Province Serob Makhsudyan, Yurik Badryan, Kamo Chobanyan and Arsen Aghababyan; heads of the Zaritap and Khachik villages of Vayots Dzor Province Simon Babayan and Vardan Nersisyan, as well as the directors of the cultural centers and music schools of the bordering villages.

Greeting the guests, Minister Hranush Hakobyan particularly stated the following: “During the Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists held in October 2016, the participants launched the “What are YOU doing for Artsakh?” pan-Armenian movement, which became widely popular and engaged numerous Armenian schoolchildren in the Diaspora. Through this movement, Secretary of Armenian General Benevolent Union Buenos Aires Antonio Sarafian and Honorary Member of AGBU Argentina Chapter and dudukist Gagik Gasparyan held concerts in South America, New York, Paris and Yerevan and raised funds that were used to purchase 300 musical instruments, some of which have already been transferred to music schools in Artsakh. It was decided to transfer the rest of the instruments to the bordering villages of Armenia, and today we are transferring them to you.”

The Minister presented the movement/program of the Ministry of Diaspora for support to bordering villages that gained momentum, especially after the 6^th Armenia-Diaspora Pan-Armenian Forum. “During the forum, we addressed Armenian communities of the Diaspora so that they also start supporting the solutions to the socio-economic, educational and cultural issues facing bordering villages. Three villages already have sponsors. Today, as we approach the New Year, let these musical instruments become instruments for peace and motivation for the children of bordering villages and let these instruments enhance cultural life. It is very important to teach children how to play musical instruments since Armenian folk and national songs and music lie at the core of Armenian culture,” Minister Hranush Hakobyan emphasized. The Minister stressed the fact that the best music ensembles of the bordering villages will also participate in the regional stages of the “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival to be held in the summer of 2018.

Each of the heads of the departments of education, culture and sport of the regional governor’s office of the Gegharkunik and Shirak Provinces received 400 copies of children’s writer Nune Sargsyan’s book of fairy tales (adapted in the dialects of Gavar and Gyumri). “Dialects are a major part of our mother language. They are our wealth that also nourishes literary language. Fairy tale writer Nune Sargsyan’s books have also been published in the dialect of Artsakh and will soon be released in Western Armenian and disseminated across the Diaspora. I think children will read these books in the dialects of Gavar and Gyumri with pleasure,” the Minister of Diaspora stated.

The representatives of the regional governor’s offices of the Gegharkunik and Shirak Provinces expressed gratitude for the gifts and stated that they will inspire children and teens and spark great interest among them.

The heads of the villages attached importance to the program of the Ministry of Diaspora for support to bordering villages and voiced hope that this program will help them work closely with Armenian communities in the Diaspora.

Director of the music school in Tchambarak village Armine Khechoyan noted that the village lacks teachers of musical instruments, and the heads of all the villages attached importance to the need for free lessons.

Head of Voskepar village Serob Makhsudyan expressed gratitude to the Minister of Diaspora and the Ministry and wished that Armenian national songs and music are always heard in bordering villages. The head of Verin Karmiraghbyur village urged to play Armenian folk songs on Armenian television and radio stations.

At the end of the meeting, Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan wished everyone a Happy New Year and a congratulated them on the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity. “The homeland starts from the land, village and border. Let us keep our country in peace and strengthen our army and borders. I wish you make your wishes and dreams come true. Gregory of Narek would say everyone needs to think right, say nice things and do good deeds. Let us think right, say nice things and do good deeds,” Hranush Hakobyan mentioned.