Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Your Excellency Mr. President,
Dear Brother in Christ,
and Beloved Participants of this Conference,

The convening of the third "Armenia-Diaspora" Conference under the festive light of the 15th anniversary of re-established statehood for Armenia and Artsakh, has filled our souls with joy. With thanksgiving and praise to God, we have come to welcome you, the honorable participants, and extend the blessings of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to the deliberations of this conference.

Our motherland is once again united with her children in the same hopes and aspirations, and also with the belief that together, we shall traverse a new path of progress toward prosperity for our people; toward strengthening of our spiritual and national life.

The difficulties and triumphs of the past fifteen years belong to all our people. All of our people, those living in our homeland and those dispersed throughout the world, experienced the elation of independence, and in equal measure, confronted the dangers threatening our freedom; we equally bore the difficulties on the path of sovereignty and the creation of statehood; and together won the victories and successes. Let us offer glory to God, that He blessed the undivided efforts, love and devotion of our people to re-establish the independent statehood of our homeland.

Every generation has its imperative. Today we are living in a remarkably important epoch of our history. The time has come, that our present capabilities, which are greater through the free and independent life of our homeland and the unobstructed ties with our diaspora, completely and perfectly serve the prosperity, unity and solidarity of our people and the renaissance of spiritual and national life everywhere. It is this outlook which today inspires us and directs our paths. Our gathering is called to pursue this supreme goal and to face the present obligation. Yes, the possibilities to freely work are greater than they were fifteen years ago, however the urgent issues which trouble us are not few. The time has come, and we can no longer delay. In our contemporary world, in the political realm, in the rapid development of science, technology and communication, in the hour-by-hour narrowing gap between economies and cultures, the Armenian people must be in the forefront, and they shall turn their hopes for a peaceful and creative life into reality through a strong state and a vibrant Diaspora. When, at present, there are great changes in the communities of the Diaspora - some getting smaller, new ones being formed - the creation of a new structure for maintaining the Armenian identity is becoming imperative to meet these developments. The construction of new churches and schools, the complete and total reorganization of education, and the triumph over the unnatural situation facing our Church life which was inherited by this generation, have all become essential.

Before us all today is the imperative to reinforce Armenia and Artsakh, to secure in every manner well-armed and competent armed forces, and to insure progress in all realms. The just rights of Artsakh have yet to be recognized, and the threat to renew hostilities against our people continues. There are positive developments in our homeland in the economic, social, educational and cultural spheres; however, poverty, unemployment, under-employment and the export of our labor force remain undefeated. The villages and rural settlements are in a state of need and vulnerability. The plans for their improvement and better future are the aims for this conference. We welcome the initiative to improve the rural settlements, which today have a pivotal significance in the development of the economic and social life of our country and the well-being of our people. Together we shall find the correct answers and decisions to all imperatives with a unified spirit, through the united efforts of national and ecclesiastical organizations, and possessing the power of our free statehood. During the recent events in Lebanon, the importance of the support through our state policy was evident. So that the role our state plays in any situation be greater, we must see the vision of our developed homeland and prosperous country as something near rather than far, and which in itself is the aim of having independent statehood - to create and build in a free environment, to form a secure and good life, and to freely express our spiritual vitality. The strength and progress of the homeland are the might and power of the Diaspora as well. For continuous centuries, in good times and bad, in conditions of ease and difficulty, the Diaspora has lived and has been maintained with the dream of seeing the homeland free and returning to her. Today the dream has become reality on this portion of our homeland, and the faith in a free life for Armenia and Artsakh is also a reality, which shall become for us the light which leads us forward.

We extend our Pontifical message and exhortation to all our people in Armenia, Artsakh and dispersed throughout the world, to accomplish this great and important homeland-building initiative of restoring villages and rural settlements. The Armenian Church as well shall bring her active participation to the realization of this project, which will serve the welfare and prosperity of our nation. We believe that our children, as always, will be standing in support of our homeland, and our people will together build their native home, so that it may always be the sanctuary of hope, the inspiration and axis of Armenian life, and the consolidating strength of all Armenians. Our people, proud with work, will forget about misery on their native soil. We shall present to our children a country strong with a harmonious societal life, bright with the light of faith, knowledge and culture - a Christian nation - philanthropic, humanitarian and decent. May God’s spirit of truth lead us all, and may our Lord’s grace and strength be our helper, so that our plans and works bear good results and victories, and from generation to generation, we shall tell the story of God’s blessing in the lives of our people.

May the work and good initiatives of this conference be blessed.