On November 29, the regular session of the Advisory Board under the RA Minister of Diaspora, moderated by the Minister Hranush Hakobyan, was held.

Information on the preparatory work of the Conference on “Active Armenian Women: Building communities around the world” implemented with the support of the Ministry of Diaspora, report on the activities implemented from March, 2013, to July, 2014, by the Department of Pan-Armenian, International and Church Structures, report on the activities performed by the Department of the Armenian Communities of the CIS in 2013-2014, as well as other current issues were on the agenda.

AUA Professor Arpi Balian reported on the progress of the preparatory work of “Active Armenian Women: Building communities around the world”. She stated that the 7th International Conference will be held on October 9-12 with joint efforts of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, American University of Armenia and the Armenian International Women’s Association. In scope of the conference, presentations will be delivered on “Islamized Armenians, the Genocide and the women’s movement for the culture preservation”, “Women’s Rights in the Middle East”, “Women in the Globalized World”, “Armenian Women Writers about the Genocide”, etc. Book presentations will be organized;“Grandma’s Tatoos″ and “The Lark Farm” movies will be shown.

The RA Minister of Diaspora thanked Arpi Balian for her active involvement, over the last half year period, in the organization of the conference with the Los Angeles and Boston organizations. The minister proposed to develop a special program for proper arrangement of the visit of Conferenceparticipant, France Parliament Member Valeri Buaye, who is the author of the bill criminalizing denial for the Armenian Genocide. Other organizational issues were discussed.

The report on the activities implemented from March, 2013, to July, 2014, by the Department of Pan-Armenian, International and Church Organizations was presented by the head of the Department K. Sargsyan. He stated that, through the reporting period, activities related to collection and processing of the information on notable events occurring in the Diaspora communities and publishing of  “The Armenian Diaspora-2012” and “The Armenian Diaspora-2013”Yearbooks were performed. The digitization program for the Venice Mekhitarist Congregation’s manuscripts was implemented.

Five manuscript specialists from Matenadaran have been seconded to the Congregation in Zmmar to participate in the manuscript digitization work, chronicle, processing of the manuscripts and publishing in separate volumes.

Jointly with the Spahan Diocesan Council of the Armenian Diocese, Spahan Armenian Diocese and Matenadaran, “Days of New Julfa” program was implemented in Yerevan.

The speaker underscored that an atmosphere of trust has been established with the Diaspora Pan-Armenian organizations. Memoranda of Cooperation were entered with “Union of Russian Armenians”, “The World Armenian Congress”, “Pan-National Armenian Educational and Cultural union”, AGBU, “Armenian Relief Society”, “Armenian General Physical Education (Training) Union”, Association forHoward Kargyozyan’s Memory, Haigazian University of Beirut and “Arpa” Institute in California. Regarding the first two Pan-Armenian organizations, memoranda were concluded in a formal ceremony.

The RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan stated that, while she appreciates the activity with religious and pan-Armenian organizations as positive, the activities with international organizations has not been sufficient. “The increasing trust towards us does not let us to neglect in our duties” – said she. The minister suggested organizingthe days of St. Luke in Armenia.

Regarding the activities performed by the Department of the Armenian Communities of the CIS in 2013-2014, the report was presented by the Head of the Division of Relations with the communities of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova under the Department of the Armenian Communities of the CIS E. Hovsepyan. He stated that, in 2013-2014, additional 25 passports for Armenian communities were prepared. The community passports have been amended and updated on an ongoing basis. Since 2012, the Department has made efforts in launching the program for support in settlement of the problems of the Armenian communities in the CIS region in the area of education and culture.   E. Hovsepyan presented the statistics of participation of the regionalcountries in the programs of the Ministry of Diaspora in 2013-2014; he also reported on the other activities carried out with communities.

The RA Minister of Diaspora stated that more dynamic activities should be performed with all communities. Contacts should be established with heads of the most remote and the smallest communities, and they should be invited to the conference. There is a need to address ideological-political issues related to the events in the Ukraine and to clarify the local situation and the people’s needs. The minister attached importance to the visibility issue, contacts with local papers and websites, and stated that the number and coverage of video conferences should be increased.

Wrapping up the session, the RA Minister of Diaspora added that the last month was full of interesting and multifaceted events. “Diaspora” Summer school is underway with success; every 14 days a new stage of “Ari Tun” program is being launched. As of today, the organization of the launch of Choir Days on August 1within the framework of “My Armenia”, its opening ceremonyand proper coverage are in the spotlight.