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On October 19 in the RA National Assembly the representatives of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) were hosted. The meeting of the NA President Hovik Abrahamyan and the AGBU Representation Delegation was held in the Session Hall of the Parliament. Welcoming the guests the President of the National Assembly said:

“Dear compatriots,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Distinguished Mr Sedrakian,

I am very glad to welcome you in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia .

From the beginning of the last century the Armenian General Benevolent Union on the initiative of its founder, well-known national figure Poghos Nubar, had launched the activity for promoting the Armenian people’s spiritual and cultural development. His kind works, humanitarian initiatives and programmes that had been and continue being implemented in the Diaspora, Armenia and Artsakh, serve as undeniable contributions to the sphere of Armenian identity and strengthening of the Motherland.

Under the tenure of the all Presidents of the Benevolent Fund, from the late Poghos Nubar up to you, distinguished Mr Sedrakian, you have been and you are the sound pillar of the Motherland, and organization always in concern with its present and future. It is not accidental that one of the first national heroes of the third Republic of Armenia became the late Alek Manukian, whose daughter Loise-Simon Manukian, who led with dignity for many years the AGBU, is now the honorable President of your organization.

Dear compatriots, ladies and gentlemen,

The Armenian Diaspora has been born as a consequence of our big pain, the Genocide perpetrated towards Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey in 1915, but by keeping the bitter memory and wound of the past for many years, it could become stronger, managed to develop and outgrow to a genuinely influential phenomenon, being distinguished with its uniqueness and, at the same time, successfully making a part of the countries, where Armenian communities had been formed. Nobody will envy our people for the pain and tragedy, but many peoples would like to have the possibilities, which have our people thanks to the sons worldwide. The Diaspora has become our advantage that we should be able to keep and maintain with dignity as wealth, all-national value, never forgetting that the just evaluation of the tragedy that had become a reason of its birth is not still completed.

The importance of the Diaspora and the Motherland is reciprocal for each other because they have the need of supporting each other, getting energy and giving energy to each other. Only by backing each other we can really make tangible the idea of having powerful Armenia , Armenia , where pro-Armenian ideas, as well as ideas born by Armenians can become national spirit and body for the sake of all Armenians in Armenia , in the Diaspora and in Artsakh.

Adhering to the tradition of feeling the breath of time and immediately responding the situations the AGBU could not be indifferent towards the issue being inseparable part of keeping the identity of Armenians, fate of Artsakh. When in the beginning of the 20^th century in Cairo Poghos Nubar founded the Armenian General Benevolent Union, for the first time with that creating a union aimed at all Armenians’ problems, its target were all Armenians all over the world. And from the end of the 20^th century the situation created over Artsakh: from the national liberation struggle to proclamation of the Nagorno Krabakh Republic , was one more opportunity for the AGBU to be manifested as a genuinely all-Armenian, genuinely benevolent organization, genuinely caring about the Armenians’ fate. Today the AGBU implements that mission.

Dear compatriots,

Initiating more and more substantial goals in the Motherland and implementing them, the AGBU is well aware that though the considerable part of Armenians is outside Armenia , Armenia is the guarantor of all Armenians’ collectivity, a strong, competitive, developed Armenia .

And the AGBU takes part in the establishment of such Armenia with its programmes, initiatives, material and moral contribution, and, of course, with its members: from the trustees up to ordinary representatives, who continue the work of the AGBU founder Poghos Nubar”.

Once again welcoming their visit to Armenia and the National Assembly, the Head of the parliament highlighted the reinforcement of Armenia-Diaspora further ties, noting that in unity both Armenia and the Diaspora will be powerful.

Thanking for the warm reception and words of acknowledgement, the AGBU President Perch Sedrakian noted that it was a great honour for them to be hosted in the Parliament. In the name of the delegation he expressed readiness to further continue the mission of keeping the identity of Armenians and supporting the Motherland.

The RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan introduced the structure and the directions of the activity, legislative and oversight functions of the parliament, answered the numerous questions of those present.

The NA President touched upon the emigration, blockade, and events aimed at overcoming the financial-economic crisis, issues concerning the Karabakh conflict. Mr Abrahamyan highlighted the role of parliamentary diplomacy, the visits of parliamentary delegations to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. “Every such visit changes the foreign deputies’ apprehension s for 180 degrees”, the NA President ensured them, noting that by visiting Artsakh, they see a democratic, established state.

Upon the guests’ request the Head of the parliament presented the steps that the RA authorities had undertaken in supporting the Syrian Armenian community. Hovik Abrahamyan ensured them that the support would be of a continuous character.

The NA President also talked about the inter-parliamentary relations with different countries, presenting the close relations that are shaped with legislative bodies abroad. Hovik Abrahamyan also touched upon other issues.