The third Global Armenian Summit kicked off with an official opening ceremony, whose key objective is the strengthening of Armenia-Diaspora ties. About 800 representatives of Armenian communities from around 55 countries have arrived in Armenia to take part in the summit.
In his opening address, President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan stressed in particular that when speaking about Armenia-Diaspora relations, the ideology of the Real Armenia must necessarily be emphasized.
“Real Armenia is our state, with its internationally recognized territory and borders, citizens, state institutions, democratic system and aspiration for development. Advancing the concept of Real Armenia does not mean renouncing our history, national identity, culture or ties with Armenians spread around the world. On the contrary, it means making our rich heritage a pillar of strong statehood and modern development.
We have a history of millennia and a significant contribution to world civilization. We have a Diaspora which in different countries has preserved its identity, while at the same time achieving great success in the fields of science, technology, business, culture and public life. This is our wealth, but the task before us is to turn that wealth into the future, and to direct it toward Armenia.
We do not want to limit Armenia-Diaspora relations to patriotic sentiments, historical memory or charity alone. They are important, but our cooperation must be more comprehensive. We want to see the contribution of Diaspora Armenian specialists to the development of various sectors in Armenia. If that contribution takes the form of repatriation, we Armenians living in Armenia will be extremely happy,” said Ruben Rubinyan.
The President of the National Assembly also added that this summit must not be limited to good discussions and fine formulations; it must become a launching platform for clear ideas, initiatives and new cooperation programs.
High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan emphasized that the third Global Armenian Summit is an important platform for continuing the dialogue between the Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora.
“The Diaspora is diverse in its history, experiences, achievements, perceptions and approaches. The great potential of the Diaspora lies in this diversity. The potential of Armenia-Diaspora relations lies not in unanimity on all issues, but in the ability to listen to one another, to respect different viewpoints and to unite around common goals. At the center of those common goals is a sovereign, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Republic of Armenia,” noted Zareh Sinanyan.
The working discussions of the third Global Armenian Summit will begin on November 6. The summit will conclude on November 8.
