MINISTER OF DIASPORA RECEIVES ITALIAN AMBASSADOR BRUNO SCAPINI

Noyan Tapan
July 28, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 28, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 28, RA
Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobian received newly appointed
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Armenia
Bruno Scapini.

Greeting the guest the Minister expressed satisfaction for making
efforts by two sides towards further activization of economic,
educational and cultural relations between Italy and Republic of
Armenia. The Minister presented the main directions of the activity
of newly founded Ministry of Diaspora.

Speaking about the peculiarities of Armenian Diaspora Mrs. Hakobian
attached importance to the perennial experience of Italy which can
be useful for RA Ministry of Diaspora.

B. Scapini, in his turn, noted that Armenia is very dear to him.

According to the Press and Public Relations Department of the RA
Ministry of Diaspora, working for many years at the Legal Department of
Rome’s Foreign Ministry System, at the General Supervision Department
and Presidium of Ministers Board as Deputy Chief of the Department
on Issues of Italians Living Abroad, Mr. Scapini had an immediate
participation in adopting a law On General Council of Italians Living
Abroad. The Ambassador noted that the relations of Italians living
in Diaspora with their homeland are regulated with the help of the
above-mentioned law. Speaking about the peculiarities of Italian
Diaspora the Minister considered as a primary task the activity,
investments of Diasporan Armenians in Armenia, the adoption of
laws regarding their resettlement in the homeland, organizing
Homeland-Diaspora professional conferences. The Ambassador was
impressed with the organization and results being already recorded
in the Conference of Architects held in 2009 in Armenia.

Issues concerning the Mechitarist Congregation aid, the assistance of
the Italian side in the case of reopening of Murad Rafayelian School,
the activization of teaching Italian in Armenia, deepening of the
relations with the Armenian community of Italy were discussed at the
meeting. The interlocutors attached importance to the activization of
the cooperation in the cultural, educational, scientific spheres of two
countries and the necessity of involving the Italian Armenians in them.