Granush Akopyan: “Our purpose is ties strengthening of diaspora and homeland!”

In Armenia there is the Ministry of Diaspora headed by Granush Akopyan. She is the known public figure in the republic. She was repeatedly elected as the deputy of parliament of the republic, the chairman of the International association of the Armenian women, the co-chairman of association on health protection of women. The political scientist, the Doctor of Jurisprudence Granush Akopyan is the author of four books, the trustee of a number of funds and the teacher of university and the State Academy of Management of Armenia.

At the request of our portal the minister of diaspora of Armenia told about what is the work, what are the purposes and tasks of ministry:

- When the Ministry of Diaspora was created in the republic? What are its main objectives?

- The Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia was created in October, 2008. Inhabitants of Armenia always kept in touch with the compatriots living in the foreign land. The matter is that these relations developed spontaneously for long years and were based on the personal relations. In turn, the Armenians self-organized in the different countries of the world: founded the churches, schools, the cultural centres.

Many decades the traditional parties, the all-Armenian organizations work in diaspora which have the branches worldwide that promoted gradual strengthening of ties with the Homeland. The diaspora supported the Homeland in every possible way, helped to overcome difficulties during an earthquake, blockade and wars.

The important role was played by the Committee on questions of cultural ties founded in 1964 which generally was engaged in retraining of teachers, students, strengthening of ties between Armenia and diaspora.

With finding of independence of Armenia and adjustment of diplomatic relations the committee was disbanded and the management was founded on its place further renamed into the State Committee on communications with diaspora at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. The committee didn't justify hopes of our compatriots abroad and the diaspora demanded the department creation concerning diaspora.

So, as a result of the political program and the will of the third president of the Republic of Armenia Serge Sargsyan, interaction Armenia - diaspora was put on the state basis. At the heart of activity of the ministry of diaspora is the effective interaction of the Homeland -diaspora. The ministry purpose is strengthening of communication of diaspora with the Homeland, assistance of the Armenians preservation, awareness of national identity, transfer of traditions from generation to generation, to preservation of the native language in the Armenian communities created in many countries of the world owing to genocide, identification and use of potential of the Armenians in development of economy of Armenia. These major purposes are served also by all programs and ministry actions.

- What is the Armenian diaspora great today in the world? In what countries it has the greatest number?

- There are about 7 million Armenians worldwide in more than 100 countries of the world. Feature of the Armenian diaspora is that, in particular after genocide of Armenians it was created on the basis of the Armenian communities already existing in the different countries.

On the eve of World War I the Armenians lived in Russia, Iran, France, Bulgaria, the USA, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, India, etc. And, it is natural that the Armenians deported from the homeland sought to be approved in these countries, fairly hoping for support of compatriots. Today the Armenian communities exist in the Middle East (Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, etc.), Africa (Egypt, Ethiopia, etc.), Europe (France, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, England, etc.), America (the USA, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, etc.), Australia, New Zealand, in the states which have arisen on the former Soviet Union (Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, etc.)

- Do you maintain the close relations with all the countries where there is the diaspora?

- The Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia cooperates with all Armenian communities, with all structures of diaspora being in different corners of the world, with citizens of the different countries, whether regardless of that was this person on the historical homeland, whether he knows the native language, what follower of the religious direction is. As a result of programs carried out by the Ministry of Diaspora, the summer school “Spyurk”, “Ari Tun”, the festival “My Armenia”, professional forums, they are given the exclusive opportunity to learn the Homeland, to appreciate and love it.

- How the cooperation with the Armenian diaspora in Russia is carried out? What are the plans?

- The biggest Armenian community is the Russian. Owing to traditions the Armenians feel as “in the homeland” in Russia. Eventually they lost the vigilance, especially concerning the native language. This problem is extremely actual among the youth.

The ministry together with the local Armenian organizations undertakes a number of actions, develops the programs, urged to train the Armenian school students to the native language, to acquaint them with history of Armenia and the Armenian culture. With the help of our efforts the programs on establishment of Sunday schools, the organizations of intensive courses of the Armenian language, group visits of the Homeland, etc are carried out. So, in 2013 the youth meeting “The Armenian language in my heart” is planned, the purpose of which is the emphasis of importance of the native language in the environment of youth that will help to increase the awareness of national identity, to promote language and culture preservation.

I have to note that our department closely cooperates with “Union of Armenians of Russia” at implementation of programs. Ara Abramyan and the organization headed by him take active part in all our undertakings, sponsor our many programs. For 10 years “Union of Armenians of Russia” and its branches across all Russia made a lot of things for preservation of the Armenians, strengthening of the Armenian-Russian friendship and cooperation.

- Recently, after the tragic events, Armenia accepted compatriots from Syria: what is their further destiny?

- The developed “the Arab spring” in the Middle East disturbed not only the population of Syria, it directly concerned us. In 2011 the situation research o in Syria and problems of the Syrian Armenians was conducted together with National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

It was in Syria and to this day is the active Armenian community which we tenderly call the Community- mother as after genocide of the Armenians of 1915, our many compatriots found the haven in the next Syria. Thanks to the help of the Arab people, they got the second homeland. Unfortunately, the latest events intruded upon leisure not only the Arab population, it directly concerned also our compatriots. As expected, the part of them left Syria and returned to Armenia (more than 6000 people within a year).

In recent months the solution of problems of the Syrian Armenians became our most important task. We made their problems as ours, problems of all nation. Today, the Syrian Armenians who were in Armenia are spiritually fragile and it is necessary to do everything possible that they don't feel alienation.

At the request of the president of the Republic of Armenia we brought a number of changes and additions in the legislation as a result of which the Syrian Armenians were exempted from all state, customs duties, taxes on the sum more than 2 million dollars. All state and all-Armenian organizations started carrying out the big and significant programs together with the Ministry of Diaspora for assistance of the Syrian Armenians.

I can thank the Armenians of diaspora for rendered humanitarian assistance not only to the Syrian Armenians who have returned home, but also those our compatriots who now are in the territory of Syria.

- What do you consider for yourselves as the main thing at this important and responsible work?

- There is very important circumstance which serves as a powerful assessment of activity of the Ministry of Diaspora. In due time, when the ministry only was created, we were faced a problem to become recognizable, then to gain trust, and only on the basis of recognition and trust to build cooperation with the Armenian communities and diaspora structures.

Today it is possible to claim with confidence: the ministry knows the Armenian diaspora, its nuances, subtleties and problems. Activity of the Ministry of Diaspora is transparent and visible for the Armenians scattered worldwide. Eventually the mutual fears which were available concerning this or that large-scale program of department vanished.

As a result, the all-Armenian organizations, individuals of diaspora trust us and cooperate with the ministry. At last, the Armenians scattered worldwide saw, felt and were convinced that there is a structure on the Motherland which serves as a voice and presence of the Armenians of diaspora in the government of Armenia.