On Feb. 28, the advisory board under the RA Minister of Diaspora held a session moderated by RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan.

Director of the “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival Samvel Haroyan delivered a report on preparations for the second “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

Haroyan mentioned that the task force in charge of coordinating the events has sent the program of the festival and application forms to Diaspora Armenian communities and has already received the first application forms. Haroyan added that the geography has expanded and that the organizers are organizing many cultural events.

Head of the Department of Repatriation and Research Grigor Arshakyan delivered a report on the topics for research conducted with conditional (theme-based) funding for science and education provided by the RA Ministry of Diaspora in 2013. “To raise the level of efficiency of the orders received for research and to assess the activities of the relevant organizations fulfilling the orders, in 2013 RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan assigned and participated in three meetings and discussions with beneficiaries of grants for research on topics provided by the RA Ministry of Diaspora,” said Arshakyan.

Head of the Department of Finance and Economy H. Hovsepyan delivered a report on the activities carried out by the Department of Finance and Economy at the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

Current issues were also discussed.

Summing up the session, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan mentioned that the special focus must be on making more efforts to prepare for the “My Armenia” Pan-Armenian Festival and providing Diaspora Armenian communities with information. The minister also attached importance to research on the Diaspora, scientific discussions and panel sessions and particularly mentioned that “we learn something new from every study in order to update our programs”.

The RA Minister of Diaspora summed up the events in February and presented the upcoming programs.