First day sessions of the Diaspora Mobilization Conference conclude

(Horizon Media / PARIS) – The Diaspora Mobilization Conference opened its proceedings on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Paris, bringing together representatives from across the Armenian world for a series of discussions on pressing national issues.

During the opening session, remarks on behalf of the organizing body were delivered by ARF Bureau Member Hovsep Der Kevorkian. Welcoming messages followed from His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; Ashot Danielyan, President of the National Assembly of Artsakh and Acting President; and Armen Rustamyan, ARF Bureau representative.

The first roundtable examined the strategic role of the Diaspora in addressing national challenges and shaping its political agenda. Participants included Giro Manoyan, head of the ANC Central Office; political scientist Vahan Zanoyan; Gegham Stepanyan, Human Rights Defender of Artsakh; Elizabeth Chouljian, Director of Communications of the Armenian National Committee of America; and Jonathan Spangenberg, Chairman of the Central Council of Armenians in Germany. The session was moderated by Dr. Gevorg Ghukasyan, Special Programs Coordinator of the ANC Central Office.

This was followed by additional remarks from Ardy Kassakhian, former Mayor of Glendale; Ara Abrahamyan, President of the Union of Armenians of Russia; and Ara Toranian, Co-Chair of the CCAF and Editor-in-Chief of Nouvelle d’Arménie.

The second roundtable, moderated by Narek Hanneian, Armenian Language Instruction Coordinator at the Hamazkayin Marseille Jemaran, focused on the role of national values and the Armenian Church in preserving identity in the Diaspora, particularly amid current challenges. Participants included Ishkhan Saghatelyan, Representative of the ARF Supreme Body of Armenia and Member of the National Assembly of Armenia; Bishop Grigor Khachatryan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of France; Archbishop Shahe Panossian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Lebanon; Dr. Sarkis Mesrobian, public figure; and Rev. Fr. Karnig Koyounian, Pastor of St. Hagop Armenian Church of Montreal.

The third discussion addressed Armenia–Diaspora relations, focusing on both present challenges and future prospects. Speakers included Hagop Pakradouni, Member of the ARF Bureau and representative of the Armenian parliamentary bloc in Lebanon; Vazgen Manukyan, former Prime Minister of Armenia; Harut Sassounian, Publisher and Editor of The California Courier; Tigran Yegavian, journalist and political analyst; and Sarkis Shahinian, Honorary President of the Switzerland–Armenia Association.

At the conclusion of the day’s program, participants visited the monument of Komitas, where they paid tribute at the memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.