Beirut, 30/03/2010- On Saturday, March 27, 2010, Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia, Mrs. Hranoush Hagopian addressed a large group of Armenian educators in Lebanon, during a fellowship evening jointly organized by Haigazian University and the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Lebanon.University President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian welcomed the audience and introduced the Minister.
Hagopian discussed Armenia’s general social issues, and concentrated on education, assessing the current situation of the educational sector, the arising needs, and the future plans.
She shared with the audience the Ministry’s project in establishing a bridge between Armenia and the Diaspora, whereby the two entities would mutually benefit from each other’s knowledge and expertise. In this respect, Hagopian expressed her readiness to assist the diasporan youth and students in visiting and studying in Armenia by facilitating their stay and tuition fees.Hagopian applauded the role the Armenian schools play in the Diaspora in preserving the Armenian language, culture and heritage. “The Armenian schools and organizations in the Middle East are a shining example of that”, Hagopian noted.
Hagopian acknowledged the obligation of morally and financially supporting the
Armenian educators, and in this respect, and by virtue of a presidential decree, she decorated two educators with the “Movses Khorenatsi” medal. The recipients were lecturer and linguist Garo Arakelian, and long time theatre teacher and director Robert Arakelian.Finally certificates of appreciation were presented from the Ministry to Mrs. Santoukhd Bertizlian (AKA Shahantoukhd), Mr. Hovig Bertizlian and Mrs. Shake Yakoubian.
Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director