The results of the 2013 Awards “For notable contribution to preservation of the Armenian identity” as part of the contest declared by the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians of Russia were summed up and the winners received their diplomas during a solemn ceremony held on Mar. 28.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan greeted and congratulated the winners and said: “Everyone wins this contest since living and creating away from the Homeland, transmitting the Armenian identity to the generations with devotion and responsibility deserves high appreciation,” said Minister Hakobyan.

Vice-President of the World Armenian Congress Aram Sargsyan read President of the World Armenian Congress Ara Abrahamyan’s welcoming remarks and gave a speech, which was followed by a speech by Vice-President of the Union of Armenians of Russia Vladimir Aghayan. Both speakers mentioned that the primary issue facing Diaspora Armenians is preservation of the Armenian identity, the most important guarantee of which is preservation and dissemination of the Armenian language.

Director of the Christian Education Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Archimandrite Vardan Navasardyan congratulated the winners and gave his blessing.

The contest was held with the participation of 158 Armenian organizations and individuals from nearly 10 countries for the fifth year. More and more participants from different countries participate in the contest every year.

This year there were contests in the following categories: Defender of the Native Language, Best Youth/Student Organization, Best Work for Children (“Homeland, This Is How I See You” and “My Sweet and Precious Mother”) and Best Armenian Community of CIS countries.

The participants received 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd prizes and encouraging prizes. Among the first prize winners in the Best Community Organization category were the “Sevan” Armenian community of Sochi of the Union of Armenians of Russia and the “Armenian Community of Doni Nakhichevan” regional NGO of Rostov-na-Don. Eleonora Manucharyan (Moscow), Svetlana Tonapetyan (USA), Tamara Afitseryan (Austria), the “Sodruzhestvo” Children’s Cultural Center of Krasnodar, Hovhannes Shiraz Armenian Saturday School of Vienna won in the Defender of the Native Language category. The “Apaga” Armenian National Cultural Autonomy of Rostov-na-Don won in the Best Youth/Student Organization category, while Tatev Ghukasyan (Krasnodar) won in the “My Sweet and Precious Mother” essay contest, while Monica Avetisyan (Vladikavkas), Lilit Chugunyan (Belgium) and Shoushan Keshishian (Lebanon) won the “Homeland, This Is How I See You” painting contest. Diaspora Armenian individuals, as well as artists, school principals and directors of cultural centers expressed their gratitude to the RA Ministry of Diaspora for holding such a program. The Armenian National Cultural Autonomy of Saint Petersburg received the Grand Prize in the Best Armenian Community category and transferred the financial award to the Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund.

The event included performances by Emanuel Dance Ensemble of “Barutyan Shghta” Charitable NGO and Tsakhkazard Ensemble of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese.

The goal of the Awards “For notable contribution to preservation of the Armenian identity” is to encourage the contributions that groups, organizations and individuals of the Armenian Diaspora make to the preservation and development of the Armenian identity in the Diaspora and appreciate the efforts of Armenian communities in that direction.