RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan was part of the delegation led by RA Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan during the official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

On October 22, 2014, for the first time ever, the “Raffi” Complex of Homenmen hosted RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, who was accompanied by RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Iran Grigor Arakelyan and cultural attaché Sahak Yeghiazarian.

The minister mentioned that the main purpose of her visit to “Raffi” Complex was not only to become familiar with the activities carried out at the complex, but also to get to know the people who have created the “Unified Coordinating Body”.

The administration of “Raffi” Complex had organized the reception properly. When the minister entered the complex, the scouts greeted her with salt and bread and introduced her to the area and the opportunities that the complex has to offer, after which the minister mentioned that she couldn’t imagine seeing such a large-scale sport and cultural center.

Among the guests were the administrators and activists of the units of the Unified Coordinating Body, some intellectuals and active members of the complex who engaged in a sincere conversation with the minister around a round table.

After the roundtable discussion, the people and the friends and supporters of the complex had a meeting with the minister who presented the policy and programs of the Ministry of Diaspora.

The minister mentioned that she would like to see the “Raffi” Complex participate in the programs of the RA Ministry of Diaspora that “Raffi” Complex can participate in. Since the women’s choir of the Complex performed the song “Hayastan” and junior Pyunik recited a poem devoted to the minister, Hranush Hakobyan, in her turn, invited them to participate in the “Komitas Vardapet” Festival and the pan-Armenian poetry contest.

During her meetings, the minister also talked about the goals of the Armenia-Diaspora partnership and reflected on the questions that were raised during the 5^th Armenia-Diaspora Conference held recently. The questions were related to Armenia’s advancement, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the organization of the Armenian Diaspora, the issue of the Armenian Genocide, preservation of the Armenian language, consolidation of Armenians around the Armenian Church and the safety of Armenians in states of emergency.

When told that the scout division of Artsakh’s “Hayki Serund” NGO had been established with the support of the scouts of the Raff Complex in 2006, the minister praised and welcomed the steps aimed at educating the new generation in Nagorno-Karabakh. It should be mentioned that the “Raffi” Complex has strong ties with Arstakh’s “Hayki Serund” youth NGO and the two often organize camping events in Shushi, Artsakh.

The representatives of the Unified Coordinating Body mentioned that they have organized events dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide and have carried out some activities in that direction. For instance, the Unified Coordinating Body invited editor-in-chief of the Armenian section of Turkey’s Agos Weekly and turkologist Tiran Lokmagozyan to Iran, and the two have given several speeches, have made many visits and have given press conferences. Yervand Otyan’s book “Damned Years” has been translated into Persian by Andranik Khechumian and is ready for publication. The book will be published by the Unified Coordinating Body with a donation from Mr. Hrach Mirzakhanian and will be dedicated to the memory of his uncle, the late national and public figure, publicist Aramayis Mirzakhanian.

Among other speakers at the event were poet, translator and prose writer Khachik Khacher and Dean of the Faculty of Armenian Studies at the Free University of Tehran, Dr. Andranik Simonian. The minister promised to organize the presentation of Khachik Khacher’s new book in Armenia. The book is a compilation of the masterpieces of 16 famous Armenian writers and has been translated into Persian.