InternationalDiaspora Ministry seeks to establish “national council” to link Armenia and diaspora
Proposal discussed in 3 countries on USArmenia TV
by Vincent Lima
Published: Friday May 29, 2009
Vahe Karapetian and Dr. Aramayis Paronian at the USArmenia TV studios in Burbank, Calif., discuss Armenia-diaspora relations with Hranush Hakobyan and Radik Martirosyan at the Armenia TV studios in Yerevan, May 24, 2009. Armenia TV
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Yerevan - On a television program on May 24 that connected Yerevan, Moscow, and Burbank, Calif., Armenia's Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan introduced the concept of an Armenian "national council" to bring together Armenia and diaspora communities worldwide. She was joined in the Yerevan studios of Armenia TV by Ara Abramyan, president of the powerful Union of Armenians in Russia and of the fledgling World Armenian Congress.
Ms. Hakobyan said that Mr. Abramyan had agreed to slow down the development of the World Armenian Congress and would work with the ministry to establish the national council, which would be chaired by the president of Armenia.
Participating in the forum from USArmenia TV's studios in Burbank, businessperson and philanthropist Vahe Karapetian sounded a cautionary note, counseling against rash moves and calling for the differences and similarities of diaspora communities and institutions in various countries to be studied carefully and considered.
The president of Armenia's National Academy of Sciences, Radik Martirosyan, participated in the forum from Yerevan. (See sidebar.) Henry Aghayan, a distinguished scientist and a member of the leadership of the Union of Armenians in Russia, participated from Moscow. Aramayis Paronian, a physician and benefactor, participated from Burbank.
Alina Khachatryan, host of the Hairenik-Spiurk (Homeland-Diaspora) program on Armenia TV, moderated the panel. She was joined by the host of the Goodnight Armenians program in Moscow and Arayik Ghazarian in Burbank.
The participants said CS Media – with which Armenia TV, USArmenia TV, and this newspaper are affiliated – was playing a significant role in facilitating Armenia-diaspora relations through the program. Extolling the vision of Gerard L. Cafesjian, founder and chairman of the board of CS Media, the participants spoke highly of the public forum that bridged 12 time zones and brought together leaders in Armenia and the United States, as well as Moscow.
"This adds responsibility," Mr. Abramyan said. "It is important for such communication to be facilitated because we can work out not only what has happened but also what needs to be happening." He said it allowed teamwork, which was essential to success.
Voluntary dedication
Mr. Abramyan noted that the Union of Armenians in Russia had branches in 640 Russian cities. "Today the Diaspora Ministry is working closely with those branches, and that is very important for us. We, in turn, feel at home at the ministry in Yerevan. If something is not quite as it ought to be, we go ‘home' and discuss matters as family."
Ms. Hakobyan noted that there are some 2 million Armenians living in Russia. The 640 structures throughout Russia are "mechanisms through which we can speak and work with our Armenian communities. To be able to run this enormous structure is something only a man with extraordinary means could accomplish," she said.
Ms. Hakobyan added: "We often think some people are obligated. I want us to develop the consciousness and mentality that in the diaspora every Armenian who dedicates himself or herself to Armenians, Armenia, the homeland has no obligation; he or she is doing so out of desire, the call of his or her conscience, or out of spiritual necessity. And I think [more] people like Ara Abramyan really exist in our diaspora existence, and glory and honor to them. Because it is only in this way that we can move forward with the enormous potential of the diaspora to help the homeland."
Saturday schools in Siberia
Ms. Hakobyan spoke of the various activities of the Union of Armenians in Russia.
"The first is maintaining Armenian identity in the Russian environment. Since the establishment of the ministry, we reached an agreement with Mr. Abramyan and we are supporting the establishment of Saturday schools. Particularly, in faraway Siberia, we have already established six schools together. I find the most important work that is being done is in education," Ms. Hakobyan said.
Another "set of questions for which we are very thankful to Mr. Abramyan is his effort to move his capital toward Armenia. He has gathered around him some very good Armenians, very capable boys, who are likewise making their investments in Armenia, in education, science, and creative associations."
Ms. Hakobyan added that Armenia "seeks to create an economy based on knowledge, and we are doing everything so that education and scholarship develop, as they should, because the basic resource of the Armenian people is people. We must invest as much money and means on human resources as possible to be able to export intellectual products."
She said she is thankful to other diaspora organizations that are contributing to Armenia's knowledge economy. "I must mention the AGBU, whose Central Executive Board, headed by Berge Setrakian, decided to create a virtual college. Together with Yerevan State University, they have created the college, which will focus on Armenian studies. This means our mothers sitting at home can push a button to help them teach their children Armenian and Armenian history."
An umbrella organization
Ms. Hakobyan noted Mr. Abramyan's efforts "to bring together our diaspora organizations worldwide."
Mr. Abramyan established the World Armenian Congress in Moscow in 2003 as an umbrella organization. The presidents of Russia and Armenia at the time, Vladimir Putin and Robert Kocharian, were present for the opening session. The congress brought together Armenian organizations from former Soviet republics and eastern Europe, but the major organizations of the West declined to participate. In the ensuring years, the congress has sponsored various activities, including activities related to the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
