Discussions on the main activities carried out by Armenia’s executive bodies last year, the 2014 Action Plan for the Government of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the fulfillment of the major objectives and the performance evaluation reports continued under the direction of Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan. RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan delivered a special report, as the press service of the Government reports.

The minister presented the activities that the Ministry of Diaspora carried out last year and mentioned that the ministry had met the three key objectives set in the reporting year. The ministry particularly expanded the programs carried out by the ministry and pan-Armenian organizations, organized conferences devoted to the preservation of the Armenian identity, as well as competitions, award ceremonies and cultural events.

The Ministry of Diaspora also held the “Im Hayastan” (My Armenia) Pan-Armenian Festival and the 5^th Armenia-Diaspora Conference and organized the “Diaspora” Summer School Program, bringing together 222 Diaspora Armenians from 22 countries instead of the expected 100. Last year, the ministry also organized Accelerated Armenian Language Courses, as well as the Courses for Young Diaspora Armenian Leaders and Armenian Song and Dance Courses.

The 2014 “Ari Tun” Program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora for Diaspora Armenian youth’s homeland recognition was held in eight stages and, instead of bringing together 100 participants, the program hosted 1,071 Diaspora Armenian youth from 31 countries around the world, as well as a group of 50 Islamized Armenians of Diyarbekir who were participating in the program for the first time ever.

The next key objective of the ministry was to coordinate the activities with Syrian-Armenians and now Ukrainian-Armenians and Iraqi-Armenians in states of emergency. It was mentioned that there are more than 12,000 Syrian-Armenians in Armenia and that they are provided with necessary assistance, including assistance in obtaining dwellings, as well as in education and healthcare. Currently, the ministry is working on organizing the return of Armenians from Ukraine and Iraq to Armenia and engaging them in different social programs.

The RA Ministry of Diaspora, in association with the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is also coordinating the events dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the activities of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Regional Committees. The 61 Regional Committees based in over 50 countries continue to carry out activities for international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide by organizing different forums and conferences, roundtable discussions, meetings with local public and political circles, as well as commemoration ceremonies and more.

Summing up the discussion, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan praised the role of the Ministry of Diaspora in the strengthening of Armenia-Diaspora relations and emphasized that the Government of the Republic of Armenia would continue to carry out activities aimed at preserving the Armenian identity. The Prime Minister attached importance to the dissemination of Armenian language, literature and culture among Armenians in the Diaspora. Importance was attached to the continuation of the “Ari Tun” Program, the teacher training program and other programs, as well as the provision of textbooks and more Armenian books to Armenian educational institutions abroad.