Armenian communities in the present stage: struggle for survival, perspectives (Scientific-Practical Conference)
On June 19-20 of the current year “Noravank” Foundation in cooperation with Caucasus Media Institute and “Yerkir” Union for repatriation and settlements NGOs organized “Armenian communities in the present stage: struggle for survival and perspectives” international scientific-practical conference.
The Conference was held with the participation of Armenian scientific and expert centers, representatives of diplomatic corps and mass media, specialists of the Armenian Diaspora, freelance researchers.
The Director of “Noravank” Foundation Gagik Harutyunyan appeared with his opening speech followed by the one of the RA Chief of Government Staff Manuk Topuzyan and the president of “Yerkir” Union Sevak Arcruni.
The Conference pursued the objective of acquiring overwhelming and multidimensional information about Armenian communities in the South Caucasus and the central part of Russia, revealing current social-political developments, demographic situation, working out suggestions on increasing efficiency of activities in communities and keeping close ties with the motherland, working out new mechanisms of cooperation and ensuring physical and spiritual security of the Armenians.
It is noteworthy that the last conference devoted to the problems of Diaspora was held in 1987, that’s to say, still in the Soviet period. From this standpoint, the realization of such an idea by “Noravank” Foundation was conditioned by the comprehension of necessity to study the Armenian communities.
The Conference was held by the participation of outstanding Russian specialists proficient in Armenian communities – the Professor of the State University of Irkutsk, Doctor of Historical Science Viktor Dyatlov (the subject of report: “Russian Armenians, community strategy of integration”), the Professor of the State University of Kuban, Doctor of Political Science Michael Savva (the report subject:“ The Armenians in Krasnodar, Armenians in the context of contemporary migration realities”).
The Conference was also efficient in the sense that representatives of different communities took part in it – the Docent of the State Linguistic University of Pyatigorsk Viktor Hakobyan (the subject of talk: “The problems of Armenians inhabited in Stavropol krai”), the Chief Editor of Krasnodar’s “Yerkramas” (territory, krai) newspaper Tigran Tavadyan (the subject of talk “Armenian hearths in Krasnodar krai: the extent of integration and perspectives”), the President of “Hamshen” Scientific-Cultural Information Center Artavazd Tulumjyan from Krasnodar (the subject of talk: “Present situation of the Hamshenians in Caucasus-Pontus region”). The latter one represented the variety of problems relating to the Armenian communities settled in Krasnodar and Stavropol.
At the Conference also took part the Doctor of Historical Science, Professor of Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University specialized in Diaspora Eduard Melkonyab (the subject of report: “One more Diaspora? The Armenian communities in the Post Soviet territory”).
The problems of Georgian Armenians were touched upon by the head of “Social Science Researches” program of “Noravank” Foundation, Candidate of Historical Science Tamara Vardanyan (the subject of talk: “Armenian community in Tbilisi: old problems, new challenges”) and the head of the Department of Caucasus Studies of Caucasus Media Institute, Candidate of Historical Science Sergey Minasyan (the subject of talk: “Armenians of Javakhq in the present stage”).
The report on Hamshenian-Armenians was made by a Senior Scientific Worker of the Yerevan State Univerity’s Armenological Center, Candidate of Philological Science Haykazun Alvrcyan (the subject of talk: “Hamshenian Armenians: Areals of spreading and urgent problems”).
By their active participation and valuable observations the works of the Conference were furthered by the political scientist Aleksandr Iskandaryan, the ethnographer, Candidate of Historical Science Hranush kharatyan, the historian Robert Tatoyan, the Armenologist Sergey Vardanyan, the international-attorney Michael Aghajanyan.
According to the ones who appeared with speeches, in the context of present globalization and migration processes some challenges are posed against preserving national identity, culture and traditions, which, of course, relate to the Armenians spread all over the world. Almost all the speakers mentioned the importance of organizing conferences relating to the Armenian communities not only from mere scientific standpoint but also from the one of communicating with the representatives of Armenian communities, as a result of which are formed new ideas and suggestions.
It was mentioned that the problems relating to the Diaspora are of strategic importance for Armenia. From the one hand, it was stressed up the importance of preserving the Armenians’ national identity, from the other hand, the problem of repatriation, the realization of which, according to the speakers, is both necessary and at the same time comprehensive and difficult.
At the end of the conference spoke G. Harutyunyan. He mentioned that suchlike conferences should become traditional. According to him, one should not spare efforts to form a joint information field.
The reports voiced at the Conference will be published by “Noravank” Foundation, which is important from the standpoint of conducting practical and scientific studies of the Armenian communities.
