PRESS RELEASE
Haigazian University
Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut
P.O.Box. 11-1748 Riad El Solh 1107 2090
Beirut Lebanon
Tel: 01-353010/1/2
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Minister of the Diaspora, Mrs. Hranoush Hagopian Visits Haigazian University

Meeting with Armenian Students

Beirut, 30/03/2010- On Friday, March 26, 2010, Minister of Diaspora of
the Republic of Armenia, Mrs. Hranoush Hagopian visited Haigazian
University, and had an informative and cordial meeting with the Armenian
students. She was accompanied by H.E. Mr. Ashod Kocharian, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Lebanon,
in addition to a delegation from the Embassy.

During the hour long meeting, Minister Hagopian expressed her pride
towards Haigazian University as being the only Armenian higher education
institution in the Diaspora.

She then discussed major challenges facing Armenia and the Diaspora,
such as globalization, drug addiction, climate change, terrorism, human
rights and poverty. The solutions which she suggested were to invest
thoroughly in human capital and information technology. "We should
succeed in creating a module that combines education, information
technology and language, in order to overcome those challenges",
Hagopian noted.

Hagopian also underlined the necessity of encouraging the diasporan
youth to get integrated in the communities in which they live, getting
involved in politics and the public sector, however, without losing
their Armenian culture and heritage. On a parallel note, she also
invited them to often visit their mother land Armenia, and try to invest
in its economy.

Finally, Minister Hagopian shared with the audience the strategy of the
Ministry of the Diaspora in tightening the bonds between Armenia and the
Diaspora. In this respect, Hagopian presented 3 perspectives to succeed
in this endeavor. First, the two entities should get acquainted to each
other, develop a mutual trust, and promote a cooperative culture.
Second, to establish bilateral relations, build upon mutual respect and
freedom of governance. Last but not least, the two entities should be of
one voice towards the main national issues and threats, such as the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, strengthening the Diaspora, the
Armenian Church, and empowering Armenia.

At the end, and after a question and answer session, Minister Hagopian
presented University President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian a set of
valuable books, all published by the Ministry.