RA MINISTER OF DIASPORA HRANUSH HAKOBYAN GAVE A SPEECH AT THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA FORUM

2015-03-18 18:00:00 | News

On 18-20 March, Yerevan is hosting a the fifth, three-day international
media forum entitled “At the Foot of Mount Ararat”, which is being
held with the slogan “I Remember and Demand” and is based on four
fundamental principles, including Remembrance, Gratitude, International
Recognition and Renaissance.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan gave a speech to the
participants of the forum on March 18. In her speech entitled
“Armenian Diaspora: From Being Deprived of the Homeland to Adopting
a Pan-Armenian Declaration”, the minister clarified the scope of the
word “Diaspora”, focused on the causes of the formation of the Armenian
Diaspora and the history of the main stages, talked about the current
state of the Armenian Diaspora, the Armenia-Diaspora partnership,
as well as the renaissance and viability of the Armenian people.

According to the minister, there are currently more than 7 million
Armenians around the world, more than 30,000 Diaspora Armenian
organizations, more than 500 Armenian schools and 3 political parties
that have chapters in over 30 countries. There is also a strong
network of churches, as well as cultural and athletic centers.

Touching upon the Armenians of Turkey, the minister mentioned that
based on estimates, there are 3 million Armenians living in Turkey,
most of which have been forced to hide their identity. “There are
two types of Armenians in Turkey-the type of Armenians who live as
Turks until 18:00, and the type of Armenians who live the life of
an Armenian in the family after 18:00,” Hranush Hakobyan stated. The
minister called on the participants of the forum to focus and reflect
on issues that are consequential to the Armenian Genocide. “I would
like to ask you to focus on the fact that Armenia is the only country
in Europe with a closed border since Turkey keeps the country in a
blockade and causes billions of dollars in damages. Diaspora Armenians
still suffer the consequences of the Armenian Genocide because every
Diaspora Armenian spends a lot of money and spiritual resources to
see justice served. But who has “counted” those sufferings? Turkey
overtly falsifies its own history and world history, and we need to
get seriously involved with this,” said Hranush Hakobyan. According to
her, since Turkey has remained unpunished, it continues its criminal
policy. Addressing the journalists of different nationalities, the
minister said: “I would like you to present the lessons learned from
the Armenian Genocide correctly so that nobody remains unpunished. The
damage that can be restored must be restored, while the damage that
can’t be restored must be compensated. To the Turks denying the
Armenian Genocide, ask them what happened to 2.5 million people who
used to live in Turkey, why the desert of Deir ez-Zor is full of
human bones, why all Armenians became dispersed across the globe,
why there were so many orphanages and homes for the elderly and why
the ambassadors of the times would send horrible letters to their
leaders.” The minister concluded with the thought that Armenians
will continue the struggle to make sure genocides never happen
again. “All Armenians will speak out and will conitnue the struggle
for recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. They won’t
keep silent because the generations will always feel troubled whenever
they remember how their ancestors were tortured,” Minister Hranush
Hakobyan concluded.