Armenian students of foreign universities hold their forum in Armenia

Yerkir/arm
August 01, 2005

Fifty ethnic Armenian students of universities from US, United Kingdon,
France, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Georgia and Artsakh gathered in
Armenia for their 11th forum kicked off on July 21.

Lilit Galstian, director of the Hamazgayin Armenian Educational and
Cultural Union Yerevan office, says this is a new project of meeting
the homeland. “During 14 days, Armenian young people, who were born
and raised in the Diaspora, will have an opportunity to better know
their homeland, their roots and their identity.”

The young Diasporans were hosted at the Yerevan State University,
visited St. Echmiadzin, Garni, Geghard, Khor Virap and Noravank;
they paid a visit to the Paronian Theater, listened to the “Anush”
opera, were lectured on the Armenian arts, culture and history.

Doctor Hrant Margarian of the California University lectured on the
Armenian Genocide and the lost cultural monuments he had photographed
during his trips to the Western Armenia, where many of the Armenian
monuments have been either destroyed or turned into mosques.

Many of those young Armenians were in Armenia for the first time,
and while most of them have graduated from Armenian schools and spoke
Armenian, this was the first time they actually touched the soil of
the homeland.

Garin Yepremian and Talin Durian, both from California, say they
were thrilled by the mysterious service at the St. Echmiadzin, the
Armenian kids and schools. Victoria Barsumian from France says the
Armenian kochari (dance) electrified her; Seruzh Baghdasarian from
Lebanon said he loved Armenian lavash (bread) and cheese.

All of them say they are sure they would return, since they are
already missing Armenia though they have not left it yet.