MINISTER OF CULTURE MENTIONS THAT ARMENIA SHOULD RECOGNIZE DIASPORAN
ARMENIAN CELEBRITIES

YEREVAN, August 23 (Noyan Tapan). “My wish is that Armenia should
recognize sculptor Arto Chakhmakhchian, Hasmik Papian and other
Diasporan Armenian celebrities.” RA Minister of Culture and Youth
Affairs Hovik Hoveyan said about it during the August 20 meeting with
Diasporan Armenian art workers. The latter arrived in Armenia at the
invitation of the RA Minister on the occasion of “One Nation, One
Culture” Pan-Armenian first cultural festival. According to poetess
Sona Vani, the festival gave numerous Diasporan Armenian art workers
an opportunity to be present at the cultural events taking place in
Armenia.

According to her, if the festival held for the first time has only
romantic importance, i.e. “art workers mark the revival of the
Armenian culture just through banquets and feast”, it would be better
if the festival had also practical continuation. Sona Vani doesn’t
agree with the title of “One Nation, One Culture” festival, because
according to her, there can’t be art of the Diaspora or the
Homeland. “If it is one nation, naturally, it has one culture.” The
poetess thinks that the festival should have been called “Pan-Armenian
Cultural Festival”. Sculptor Arto Chakhmakhchian expressed
dissatisfaction in connection with the monuments erected in
Yerevan. “I was surprised when I saw the tasteless monuments erected
in Yerevan. Could it be that there are no gifted sculptors in Armenia,
whose works should have been erected in the streets of the capital?”
mentioned the sculptor.