On March 15, Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia Hranush Hakobyan visited Anjar. The minister was accompanied by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan, Director of the Modern Art Museum of Yerevan Nune Avetisyan and members of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Lebanon Central Committee Shahan Kantaharian and Artur Gundakjian.

The minister and her accompanying delegates were greeted at the S. Zeitlian Center in Anjar by former minister Panos Sanjian, Mayor Garo Pamboukian, as well as representatives of the ARF-D “K. Ler” Committee, the Battle of Musa Dagh Centennial Central Committee, the ARF-D “K. Ler” Committee’s disciplinary-advocacy committee and communities.

During a meeting held at the S. Zeitlian Center, chairman of the ARF-D “K. Ler” Committee’s disciplinary-advocacy committee, Dr. Garo Pilavjian delivered a report on the events dedicated to the Armenian Genocide Centennial.

Chairman of the Battle of Musa Dagh Centennial Central Committee Yesayi Havatian delivered a report on the events dedicated to the Battle of Musa Dagh Centennial. Havatian informed that there would be 16 events held in Anjar and 2 events in Beirut in August and September. He also mentioned that the events in Anjar would be followed by the final centennial ceremonies in the Homeland.

After hearing the reports, the minister made several suggestions and expressed willingness to help implement the events.

At the end of the meeting, on behalf of the ARF-D “K. Ler” Committee, secretary of the S. Zeitlian Center Rita Kiyusbekian granted the minister a traditionally handmade embroidered item of Anjar.

Afterwards, the minister and the other members of her delegation, under the leadership of the trumpet band of Homenetmen Anjar, headed towards the St. Poghos Armenian Church where they were greeted by Father, Archbishop Varujan Hergelian, the district council of the church, the students and teachers of the three Armenian schools of Anjar and several fellow Armenians.

The guests attended a Requiem Service in memory of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide at St. Poghos Armenian Church, after which the delegation headed towards the monument to the Battle of Musa Dagh and laid a wreath.

Later, the delegates headed towards Gulbenkian Hall where, after hearing the performances of the Lebanese and Armenian national anthems, member of the ARF-D “K. Ler” Committee, Dr. Khazhag Ayntaplian welcomed the minister and her delegates on behalf of the Committee and all compatriots.

Ayntaplian expressed gratitude to the minister for the generosity towards the people of Anjar and appreciated the efforts of the Embassy of Armenia aimed at helping make it easy for the Armenians of Anjar to acquire citizenship of the Republic of Armenia.

In her speech, Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia Hranush Hakobyan said that wherever Armenians go, they create a little Armenia with schools, clubs and unions, and one of the proofs is Anjar. She also stressed the fact that the Armenians, as inheritors of Armenian Genocide survivors have rights as individuals, as a community and as a nation and that they also have the issue of reparations and claims from the Turkish government.

The minister urged everyone to prepare the youth so that they continue the struggle of their ancestors and set an example by preserving the Armenian language and raising the honor of the nation and the homeland.

Touching upon the situation in Syria, the minister emphasized the fact that the Republic of Armenia is doing everything it can to keep and protect the Syrian-Armenians in Armenia by solving their problems with education, healthcare and housing.

Addressing the residents of Musa Dagh-Anjar, the minister said:

“Dear residents of Anjar-Musa Dagh, I’m very proud of you, and I always bring up the example of Anjar in all my speeches and during all my meetings.”

At the end, Hranush Hakobyan granted a special gift to the mayor of Anjar.