On 26 March, Acting Minister of Diaspora Babken DerGrigorian received the delegation of Javakhk-Armenians, including Primate of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan; Vicar of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese in Samtskhe-Javakhk and Tsalka, Archimandrite Maghakia Amiryan; Executive Director of JAVAKHK Compatriotic Union Foundation Armen Avetisyan; businessman Aram Sanosyan; President of the Union of Armenian Businessmen of Georgia, businessman Samvel Aghekyan; Coordinator of the Armenian NGOs of Samtskhe-Javakhk and Kvemo-Kartli Artak Gabrielyan; historian Vahe Sargsyan and representatives of the Support to Javakhk Foundation. The main purpose of the cognitive meeting was to become familiar with the newly appointed leader of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and discuss the paths to solutions to the key issues of Javakhk-Armenians, reports the news service of the Ministry of Diaspora, according to NEWS.am.
Greeting the guests, Babken DerGrigorian attached importance to the support of the Ministry of Diaspora to the solution to the community, cultural and educational issues of the Armenians of Javakhk and stated that the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs would also be involved in these activities in the near future.
Primate of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan expressed gratitude for organizing the meeting and introduced newly appointed leader of Samtskhe-Javakhk and Tsalka, Archimandrite Maghakia Amiryan. “I am glad to mention that, after a two-year interval, the community of Samtskhe-Javakhk and Tsalka will finally have a new leader that has great experience in working with the community and particularly the youth. Let’s congratulate him and wish him success. I would like to thank the Ministry of Diaspora for organizing this meeting and for its willingness to become familiar with the issues of Javakhk-Armenians. Since the first day of its establishment, the ministry has supported the Armenians of Javakhk, and we hope the support continues,” the leader of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese added.
Archimandrite Maghakia Amiryan stated that he has been collaborating with the Ministry of Diaspora for many years and hoped his great experience would help overcome the hardships.
During the meeting, the participants touched upon the issues and challenges facing the community. The guests expressed gratitude for the effective meeting, and it was decided to hold discussions more often and make them ongoing.
