The opening of the fourth stage of the 2012 “Ari Tun” program was held at the RA Ministry of Diaspora on July 9.

The event was attended by representatives of districts of Yerevan, local self-government bodies, Diaspora Armenian communities and host families, as well as participants of the fourth stage of the 2012 “Ari Tun” program.

In her welcoming speech, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan greeted the gathered and marked the launch of the fourth stage.

“I always feel motivated when I meet with the participants of the “Ari Tun” program. The program is truly so wonderful and beautiful that it brings Armenian youth from different countries around the world to the homeland and instills in them the sense of preserving the Armenian language and culture and loving the homeland,” said Hranush Hakobyan and expressed gratitude to the representatives of state bodies and local self-government bodies and the host families for supporting the program.

Elizabeth Vardanyan, who is an Armenian language teacher of the Victoria and Grigor Tutunjian School in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, expressed gratitude for the implementation of the “Ari Tun” program and mentioned that “even though it is hard to live abroad and preserve the Armenian identity and traditions, the programs of the RA Ministry of Diaspora bring all Armenians around the world together”.

Director of the Mesrob Mashtots Armenian Sunday School of the Armenian Cultural Center of the Russian region of Perm, Jasmine Hayrapetyan donated books about the Armenian community of Perm and videos about the school’s activities to the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

Nearly 200 youths from the United States, Georgia, Canada, Argentina, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, Cyprus and Holland will be participating in the fourth stage of the “Ari Tun” program.