On June 7, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan paid a visit to Salonika with the accompaniment of Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Greece Gagik Ghalachyan. In an interview with Hellenic Television ET-3, Minister Hakobyan touched upon the objectives of the visit to Greece, as well as the journalists’ questions which mainly referred to recognition of the Armenian Genocide and Turkish-Armenian relations. Then, Mrs. Hakobyan paid a visit to St. Mary church, the community’s library and school, had a meeting with representatives of the District Council of Salonika and community unions and got acquainted with community life. The Minister also visited the Museum of Byzantine Art in Salonika where preparations were taking place for the exhibition of the Galfaian Family’s antique items. In the evening, Ambassador Gagik Ghalachyan accompanied H. Hakobyan on a visit to “Father Zakaryan” Hall of Salonika where Hakobyan was warmly received by community representatives. On behalf of the District Council of Salonika, Tony Gasemian welcomed the Minister and briefly introduced the history and the current state of the Armenian community. Gasemian touched upon all community unions and organizations which promote more organizing of the Armenian community and solutions to other multifaceted issues. Welcoming the representatives of the Armenian community, Hakobyan noted that the Armenian Diaspora is Armenia’s only morally upright, faithful and powerful ally in the world which does not spare any efforts for the development and advancement of the Homeland. The Minister introduced the goals and objectives of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and emphasized that the Ministry is guided by the slogan “Armenia is the Homeland of all Armenians”.

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