On June 27, the advisory board under the RA Minister of Diaspora held a subsequent session moderated by RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan.

The agenda included the report of the Government of the Republic of Armenia on answers to questions raised during the 4th Pan-Armenian Forum for Leaders and Representatives of Diaspora Armenian Organizations, the report by the Secretariat of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and other current issues.

Advisor to the RA Minister of Diaspora Stepan Petrosyan mentioned that broad discussions were held and proposals were made during the 4th Pan-Armenian Forum for Leaders and Representatives of Diaspora Armenian Organizations held in 2011. Overall, the organizers set aside 64 short proposals, the implementation of which has been a guideline for the development and implementation of different programs devoted to the Armenia-Diaspora partnership. The activities were carried out in association with pan-Armenian organizations and organizations within Armenian communities, as well as with the participation of Armenia’s state and local self-government bodies.

In the past three years, the Ministry of Diaspora has conducted more than 15 studies devoted to the key issues of the Armenian Diaspora and has published nearly 50 books, including three yearbooks entitled “Armenian Diaspora”. The ministry has also organized 10 conferences devoted to the key issues of the Armenian Diaspora, the consolidation of the potential of Diaspora Armenian professionals and the key issues of youth concern. The ministry has set up the “Diaspora” Summer School in five areas, and this year the program will be held in the sixth area (courses for those organizing community activities). There have also been two integration programs for Diaspora Armenians in Armenia. The ministry has also organized two programs entitled “Community Days of the Diaspora in Armenia”, as well as the “My Armenia” (Im Hayastan) and “Komitas Vardapet” Festivals, several cultural events and events paying homage to Diaspora Armenians. The RA Ministry of Diaspora has created unified Western Armenian language textbooks, has provided methodological and financial support to Armenian schools abroad, has organized trainings for Diaspora Armenian teachers in Armenia and in the given country, has provided a large number of instructive books and the emblems of the Republic of Armenia. The RA Ministry of Diaspora, in association with the Union of Armenians of Russia and the World Armenian Congress, has organized competitions in eight categories. The ministry has also supported the opening of 60 new one-day Armenian schools in the Diaspora. The activities carried out ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide were summed up during a recent conference, and some of the activities are ongoing.

The speaker mentioned that the 5th Pan-Armenian Forum for Leaders and Representatives of Diaspora Armenian Organizations is set for 19-21 September 2014 with the title “The Armenian Reality in the Changing World”.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan mentioned that the proposals made during the 4th Pan-Armenian Forum for Leaders and Representatives of Diaspora Armenian Organizations need to be grouped according to directions, and the activities carried out in those directions need to be indicated. There is a need to establish a task force, prepare a list of issues to be discussed and distribute them to Armenian communities.

The minister suggested adding more guests to the list and invite all youth leaders to the forum.

The minister also attached importance to the 5th Pan-Armenian Forum for Leaders and Representatives of Diaspora Armenian Organizations.

Head of the Secretariat of the RA Ministry of Diaspora Aida Elchibekyan delivered a report on the activities carried out by the Secretariat. Elchibekyan mentioned that the ministry has completed the government’s assignments on time and completely. In the reporting period, the Secretariat has completed the assignments of the RA Minister of Diaspora and the Chief of Staff in terms of the policy led by the RA Ministry of Diaspora. The speaker attached importance to checking mail, overseeing responses to appeals, requests and complaints, the distribution of dailies and magazines according to the structural subdivisions, as well as coordination of delivery and registration of documents entered into and removed from the Mulberry system.

Summing up the session, the RA Minister of Diaspora mentioned that the ministry needs to work more with the Armenia communities and try to establish contacts with passive and newly established communities and become familiar with their issues.