A scene from the meeting (Photo: President.am)
YEREVAN (Armenian Weekly)—The 8th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists took place in Yerevan and Stepanakert from October 20-24 where journalists and editors from the Armenian Diaspora met with various government officials including President Serzh Sarkisian, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, and Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) President Bako Sahakyan.
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian met with representatives of the 8th Pan Armenian Forum of Journalists on Monday, October 24.
Sarkisian saluted the conference, which is dedicated to the 25th anniversaries of the independence of Armenia and Artsakh.
“You are very powerful; your activities give us confidence and vigor to fulfill our responsibilities utilizing all our capacities,” said Sarkisian to the participants.
During the meeting, Sarkisian noted that it is impossible to achieve success in journalism by denying small lies with larger ones or establishing legitimacy through dishonest means.
The journalists and editors then posed several questions to Sarkisian about the position of the Armenian side regarding the Karabakh peace process, the reforms to be conducted in Armenia in accordance with Armenia’s new Constitution, the strengthening of Armenia-Diaspora relations, state policy related to the attraction to Armenia of foreign investments, and other issues.
Karapetyan and the participants of the conference (Photo: gov.am)
Newly appointed Karapetyan received the participants of the 8th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists in the Armenian Government Building Session Hall on October 20.
Welcoming journalists and editors from 31 different countries, Karapetyan stressed the importance of holding such conferences, which help strengthen Armenia-Diaspora relations, allow for a discussion of current Armenian issues, and help mobilize the worldwide Armenian media’s potential.
Karapetyan addressing the participants of the conference (Photo: gov.am)
Karapetyan provided details about the new government program, noting that it provides a great place for the Diaspora’s potential and its realization. “In general, I think that this separation [between Armenia and the Diaspora] is artificial, because we cannot live without each other. Armenian man is our potential, capital, and resource; no matter if [we] live in Armenia or abroad. I am more than confident that the Diaspora will feel safer and more protected with a stronger Armenia, and I am sure that it would be harder for Armenia to achieve its goals without the Diaspora’s potential. In this regard, I am happy to meet you, because we can conditionally say that you are the bridge and the pipe that unites the Armenian world,” he said.
During the meeting, Karapetyan also answered many questions related to his government’s priorities, the proposed reforms, and identity preservation issues.
A scene from President Sahakyan’s meeting with the participants. (Photo: president.nkr.am)
Artsakh President Sahakyan received the participants of the 8th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists on October 22.
In his address to the participants, Sahakyan mentioned that the topics being discussed at the conference were important, interesting, and urgent.
“Currently alongside traditional issues, we are facing new tasks in the information sphere. All these demand the implementation of appropriate policy in the information field and close cooperation between journalists and news sectors of Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora,” said the President.
Sahakyan also answered various questions raised by the journalists about various topics, including the Karabakh conflict settlement and Artsakh’s domestic and foreign policy.
Entitled “Armenian statehood: Axis of Unity,” the 8th Pan-Armenian Forum of Journalists is attended by 65 editors-in-chief and a total of 141 journalists. The goal of the forum is to expand and improve the all-Armenian information field, make a better use of media outlets in promoting Armenia’s development potential, enhancing its international reputation, preserving the Armenian identity in the Diaspora, and addressing pan-Armenian issues.
Source: Asbarez
Link: Diaspora Journalists, Editors Meet with Government Officials