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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, February 18, 2008
AGBU Representatives Participate in Conference Devoted to the
Repatriation Movement
A conference devoted to "The Repatriation of 1946-1948 and its Lessons:
Basic Issues of Repatriation Today" took place December 12-14, 2008 at
the Writers House in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia. The event was organized by
the National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan State University and Noravank
Scientific-Educational Fund.
The opening of the conference took place in the Erebuni Plaza Hotel.
Messages from President of the Republic of Armenia Serge Sargsyan and
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, were read.
Addresses were made by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian, Diaspora Minister
Hranush Hakobian, as well as the general director of the VivaCell
Company, Ralph Yerikian, Ombudsperson of the Republic of Armenia Armen
Harutiunian, and National Academy of Sciences President Radik
Martirosian. Present at the opening of the conference was AGBU Central
Board of Directors member Vasken Yacoubian. During the opening of the
conference, a documentary film devoted to the repatriation was shown, in
which the critical role played by AGBU in that historic event was
highlighted.
Historians, scholars, representatives of political and public
organizations, as well as numerous repatriates, participated in the
conference.
Over the course of two days and in nine successive sessions, reports
were presented about the basic issues of the repatriation, Stalin’s
endeavors in favor of cosmopolitanism, historiography of repatriation,
its geography and demography, the role of Catholicos Gevorg VI
Cheorekchian, as well as repatriation and historical memory. Papers were
also presented about the oppressive measures to which the repatriates
were subjected, linguistic issues, the present intentions of
repatriation and topics of discussion pertaining to the issue of
repatriation in the current diasporan Armenian press. A few repatriates
from the late 1940s and diasporan Armenians currently living in Armenia
spoke about their experiences adapting to the Armenian homeland.
Edward Melkonian, principal scholar of the History Institute of the
National Academy of Sciences, read a scholarly report on "AGBU in the
Process of Repatriation," while AGBU Armenia Representation’s Deputy
Director Hovig Eordekian spoke about "The Repatriate about
Repatriation."
In the light of the discussions, debates and exchange of opinions that
took place, History Institute Director Ashot Melkonian brought a
conclusion to the conference’s work, saying that although the
repatriation story contains sad passages, it had important significance
from the standpoint of Armenia’s development and increase in population.
There are plans to publish the conference papers in the future.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually serving some
400,000 Armenians on six continents.