YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenia's Deputy Minister of Diaspora Stepan Petrosian on May 4 received the delegation headed by Speaker of the Parliament of Catalonia Ernest Benach. The RA Ministry of Diaspora reports that it was the first visit of a Catalan parliamentary delegation to Armenia since the parliament of Catalonia recognized the Armenian Genocide on February 26, 2010. Welcoming the guests, S. Petrosian thanked the Catalan parliament for its efforts on recognition of the Armenian Genocide and its consistent approach. He expressed a high opinion about Mr. Benach's attitude to the Armenian community of Catalonia, saying that the best evidence was the opening of an Armenian-Spanish khachkar in Catalonia. S. Petrosian informed the guests about the programs of the RA Ministry of Diaspora: Armenia-Diaspora cooperation, preservation of the Armenian identity, identification of Armenian potential in the Diaspora, repatriation and several other problems. The interlocutors spoke about the institution of dual citizenship in Catalonia, the problem of receiving citizenship by Armenians living in Catalonia, their educational problems, etc. S. Petrosian underlined the need for the implementation of youth programs, particularly he spoke about "Ari Tun" program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora. At the conclusion of the meeting the deputy minister presented some books published by the Ministry of Diaspora to the guests, while Mr. Benach handed him a book on the history of Catalan parliament.

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