High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs had a meeting with representatives of Armenian community in Georgia

On February 3rd, 2020, within the framework of his working visit to Georgia, Zareh Sinanyan, RA High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs and Hayk Yengibaryan, Head of All-Armenian projects Department’s scientific-educational projects, led by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Ruben Sadoyan and accompanied by diplomats of Embassy visited Saint Etchmiadzin church of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, in Avlabari, Tbilisi.

The guests were welcomed by the Vicar of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Rev. Father Archimandrite Kirakos Davtyan. Rev. Father told about the reconstruction works carried out in Saint Etchmiadzin church and spiritual and cultural activities of the church. After lighting candles and praying in the ancient church, guests were taken to ‘’Hayartun’’ Educational, Cultural and Youth Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

High Commissioner and guests toured the Center, had a look at preschool and native language classrooms. Eugenia Markosyan, Head of the Center presented the guests the activities of the Center aimed at preserving national values, as well as Center’s preschool, native language teaching one-day schools, groups of song, dance, vocal, dhol, duduk, and chess, where 3-year-old children and older Armenians are included. The Head of the Center attached importance to the cooperation with Motherland, particularly educational, state institutions of Diaspora affairs and various city structures.

High Commissioner expressed his satisfaction with the Center's activities for maintenance of national values and expressed confidence that the Office of High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs will continue to keep this institution's activities in center of attention.

Afterwards, the meeting of High Commissioner with the representatives of Armenian community in Tbilisi took place in Calouste Gulbenkian Hall of the Center. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Ruben Sadoyan gave opening remarks, then, Vicar of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Rev. Father Archimandrite Kirakos Davtyan offered his blessings to attendees, appreciated the attention and support provided by the RA Ministry of Diaspora for many years to activities and implementation of numerous projects of Armenian Diocese in Georgia. He wished success in promoting the maintenance of Armenian identity and national values outside the Motherland.

High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan described his working visit as an acquaintance, spoke about the worldwide Armenian Diaspora, its progress and challenges, successes in some countries and difficulties in others. He touched upon the impressions he received during his three-day visit, meetings with state officials, visits to Armenian institutions, and mentioned that this visit opens up many directions of activity in front of High Commissioner Office and it should be aimed at preserving Armenian identity, spreading the native language, uniting around the church and developing national culture.

Those present asked questions about mechanisms of operating of Armenian schools in other countries; the activities of churches, in particular, Armenian Apostolic Church; raising the interest and attractiveness of young people towards the Motherland, as well as contacts with Armenia and development of national culture. High Commissioner highlighted that not knowing the native language, Armenian culture and history, and following other religions should not hinder the preservation of Armenian identity and spirit, and pride of being Armenian.

The meeting was concluded with questions and answers in the atmosphere of mutual understanding.

Concluding his visit to Tbilisi, RA High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan left for Javakheti.