Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Commissioners for Diaspora Affairs, who are in Yerevan to attend the Third Global Armenian Summit.
Welcoming the participants, Pashinyan said that a new institution and system of cooperation had been established in recent years, thanking the commissioners for their engagement.
“We must place the development of the Republic of Armenia, its state institutions, statehood as a whole, and its economy at the center of our cooperation. The Republic of Armenia should become the epicenter of the Armenian people’s life,” Pashinyan said.
He noted that an increasing number of Diaspora Armenians are becoming actively involved in the development of Armenia’s economy and education, with several high-profile and internationally recognized projects already underway.
However, he stressed the importance of conveying this message to all segments of the Armenian community worldwide.
The prime minister emphasized the key role of the institution of Commissioners for Diaspora Affairs, operating under the leadership of the Chief Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, in advancing this agenda.
Pashinyan also spoke about the draft of Armenia’s new Constitution, noting that it addresses relations between Armenia and the Diaspora. He said the draft, which will undergo further development, is expected to be published in November.
“We have included a very important provision concerning Armenia-Diaspora relations and their purpose. These relations have multiple dimensions, but we considered it important to clearly define in the draft new Constitution the ultimate goal of Armenia-Diaspora relations.
There may be immediate objectives, but there must also be an ultimate goal. We have concluded that this ultimate goal is repatriation, so that people consider the Republic of Armenia the center of their lives and activities,” Pashinyan said.
He added that it was important for Armenians worldwide to identify with the Republic of Armenia as an essential and inseparable part of their identity, a connection that would also be reflected in acquiring Armenian citizenship and engaging in activities in the country.
The meeting also addressed various aspects of Armenia-Diaspora relations, including ways to strengthen cooperation between the commissioners and diplomatic missions, as well as expand systematic and effective cooperation between Armenia and the Diaspora.