PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: cathcil@cathcil.org
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

INTELLECTUALS FROM ARMENIA AND THE DIASPORA DISCUSS CULTURAL,
EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC AND ARMENIAN CAUSE RELATED ISSUES

The conference of Armenia-Diaspora intellectuals continued its sessions
on Friday and Saturday, 12-13 August, under the patronage of His
Holiness Aram I. Six sessions tackling the cultural, educational,
Armenian’s rights and economic issues occurred on the second and
third days of the conference.

The lecturers during the session on cultural issues were Dr. Hovhannes
Taslakian and Berdj Zeitountsian. They talked about the current
situation of Armenian culture in Armenia and the Diaspora, the
challenges it faces, its achievements and failures.

The two outlined the worrying phenomena of the obvious fall in moral
values and increase in material values. They discussed the imperative
of rescuing various cultural heritages, including literature, music
and dance from foreign influences. Dr. Taslakian raised the issue of
implementing the Mesrobian guidelines for dictation.

The attendants particularly emphasized the importance of reforming
the structures of the Diaspora so Armenian communities could retain
their Armenian character and regain their activeness.

“There’s a retreat in the cultural field in Armenia and the
Diaspora. But this retreat should be treated as a crises and crisis
are sometimes positive phenomena which open up new horizons,” said
His Holiness Aram I as a conclusion to the discussions revolving
around culture, he underscored the following points:

Armenia-Diaspora relations should be planned, organized and continuous.
rather than occasional.

Armenians should aim at betterment of quality and values..

In return of the new cultural liveliness provided by Armenia to the.
Diaspora, the Diaspora should help Armenia financially.

The Armenian culture should be rescued from its monologue and its dialogue.
with other cultures in the Diaspora should not be left to chance.

In the end, His Holiness called for “purifying the Armenian culture and
returning it to its roots and authentic spirit.”

The second session was dedicated to educational issues. Edig Melkonian and
Bebo Simonian discussed the main challenges Armenia and the Diaspora face in
this field, including issues related to educational curricula, textbooks,
reform of teachers and betterment of their life standards.

His Holiness drew out the following conclusions from the discussions:

a.. Armenians should not consider their educational field to be in
retreat, but should see the Armenian school as facing new challenges.

b.. Armenian education should be re-organized in Armenia and especially in
the Diaspora.

c.. There’s a lack in coordination. Duplication and competition should be
avoided and we must aim at coherence.

d.. Local circumstances of each community should be taken into account
while preparing textbooks, which should be adjusted to a given country’s
religious and cultural particularities.

e.. The educational standards of Armenian schools must be kept high
especially in the Diaspora. Diaspora and Armenia should work together for
this purpose.

The agenda of the third session of the day concerned the issue of the
Armenian nation’s rights and their struggle for securing these rights. Dr.
Aida Hovhannisian from Iran and Dr. Ashod Melkonian from Armenia delivered
brief lectures about the topic, talking about the work carried out so far
and about the direction this should take in the future.

The impossibility of reconciliation between the criminals and victims was
discussed unless the criminal accepts its crime.

They emphasized the need to prepare professionals in legal matters as well
as the importance of publishing books, making films and establishing a
satellite TV for dissemination.

The Catholicos talked about the efforts carried out by the Diaspora during
the last 90 years for securing the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by
the international community and highlighted the work of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia in this direction. He also mentioned the efforts put forth by
Armenia in this direction during the last 15 years.

After lively discussions, the session was concluded by His Holiness:

a.. Armenia and the Diaspora should clarify the division of work and roles
between them in order to achieve harmony and coordination.

b.. Armenia should play its role as a government and the Diaspora should
bring its contribution to the struggle for the Armenian Cause.

c.. Armenia and the Diaspora should show differences in their styles.

d.. The struggle for rights and reparations should go hand in hand.

e.. The Armenian Cause should retain its pan-Armenian character. All
Armenians are obliged to bring their contributions to it.

f.. Technology should be widely incorporated for propaganda purposes.

The fourth session was related to the economic field. Meguerditch
Bouldoukian, Sergei Hampartsoumian and Levon Meguerdtchian delivered brief
lectures, talking about the economic progress and its potentials in Armenia
today.

Bedros Terzian talked about the potentiality of oil in the world and its
limitedness in the countries neighboring Armenia, and particularly
Azerbaidjan in the coming decades.

The participants discussed the various aspects of Armenia-Diaspora economic
aid and stated that the Armenian economy has undergone significant growth as
compared to the first few years of independence. They pointed out, however,
that the Armenian economy is still no self-sufficient.

In summarizing the discussions Aram I said:

a.. There’s a lack of economic laws in Armenia

b.. The aid provided by the Diaspora will decrease with time because of
the economic difficulties the structures of the various communities face.
Therefore,

c.. Armenians should focus on investments, not economic aid.

d.. At this point in time short-term business should be emphasized in
Armenia.

e.. Small business should be encouraged in order to guarantee wide
participation by the people.

f.. The Diaspora should help in the export of Armenian products.

g.. Armenia and the Diaspora should engage in cooperation where each has
its role to play.

h.. The relations of Diaspora Armenians with foreign businessmen and
investors should be used to increase foreign investments in Armenia.

i.. Guidelines should be established for Armenia-Diaspora economic
cooperation.

A press release including the viewpoints and approaches of participants to
each topic will be issued at the end of the conference.

At the end of the sessions, the participants attended the musical concert
organized on the occasion of St. Asdvadzadzine’s Day.

##

View pictures here:

*****

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.