RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan receives President of the Armenian Writers Association of California Hakob Mkrtchyan. During the meeting, Mkrtchyan introduced the minister to the activities of the Armenian Writers Association of California and mentioned that the Association currently has nearly 50 members. Greeting the guest, Minister Hranush Hakobyan attached importance to the role of Armenian writers in the preservation of the Armenian identity and in the dissemination and development of Armenian language and introduced the guest to the programs of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, particularly the e-library, the Armenian language distance learning program and other programs promoting the preservation of the Armenian identity. The minister urged to focus more on Armenian writers composing in foreign languages because they can become more attached to their roots and show the spirit of “Armenianness” in their creations by listening to spoken Armenian and being in the Armenian environment. The sides also talked about the strengthening of bonds between Armenia and the Armenian American community, the state of Armenian schools and the programs and events devoted to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Taking into consideration the fact that February 19^th marks Book Donation Day, Minister Hranush Hakobyan and Hakob Mkrtchyan donated books to each other.