JOINT DECLARATION SIGNED BY “NORAVANK” SCIENTIFIC-EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION AND THE EUROPEAN UNION OF EXILED AND EXPELLED PEOPLE
On April 26, Head of the “Noravank” Scientific-Educational Foundation Gagik Harutyunyan and Secretary General of the European Union of Exiled and Expelled People Massimiliano Lacota signed a joint declaration on “Cultural Programs for the Expansion of Awareness of the Armenian Genocide as Part of the Heritage of European Civil Society” at the RA Ministry of Diaspora.
Attending the signing ceremony were RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, Italian Ambassador to Armenia Bruno Scapini, Executive Director of the European Union of Exiled and Expelled Enrico Neami and others.
The sides signing the declaration are united by the awareness that the mass persecutions perpetrated in Europe in the 20th century, the historical memory of forceful deportations and genocides, as part of the moral and historical heritage of that part of the world, must set an example for forming civil and historical awareness among the new generation of Europeans. By signing the memorandum, the European Union of Exiled and Expelled People and the “Noravank” Scientific-Educational Foundation under the patronage of the RA Ministry of Diaspora have the purpose of cooperating in projects aimed at forming awareness about the Armenian Genocide as an inseparable part of the heritage of European civil society. The declaration envisages taking coordinated actions with the European Commission and the Council of Europe to plan and implement programs aimed at disseminating historical, conventional, artistic and architectural heritage. It is envisaged to creating a network by establishing contacts with cultural and research organizations in order to establish stable relations between the “Noravank” Scientific-Educational Foundation, the EUEEP and Diaspora Armenian structures with the purpose of disseminating information regarding the Armenian Genocide.
Minister Hranush Hakobyan attached importance to the cooperation between “Noravank” SEF and the EUEEP, mentioning that it is of great significance and that the signing of the declaration is symbolic on these days when the Armenian people are commemorating the Armenian Genocide.
Ambassador Scapini mentioned that the signing of the declaration is a very significant initiative within the framework of Armenia’s cooperation with Italy and the European Union and can set an example for the fight against such crimes. He also mentioned that it is necessary to educate and inform people in order to prevent such crimes.
DECLARATION 
