On September 26, a decision was adopted on establishing a Pan-Armenian Council during the 6thsession of the State Commission on Coordination of the events dedicated to the 100thAnniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The Pan-Armenian Council must be a self-organized, self-governing advisory body, for the formation of which it is envisaged to develop guiding conceptual approaches.
The Council will hold its first session on September 20, 2016 in Yerevan, and an organizing committee will be set up for that purpose.
The head of the organizing committee for the establishment of the Pan-Armenian Council will be President of the Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunian, and the secretary will be Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic of Armenia and coordinator of the events dedicated to the 100thanniversary of the Armenian Genocide Viken Sargsian.
Among other members of the committee are Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hagopian; a representative of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as representatives of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, the Armenian Catholic Church, the Armenian Evangelical Church, the Bureau of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar), the Central Committee of the Social-Democratic (Hunchakian) Party, the Union of Armenians of Russia and the Armenian General Benevolent Union.
According to the adopted decision,
-The Council must also include representatives of the major structures, major state administration bodies, religious organizations, civil society and political parties of the Republic of Armenia, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the Diaspora. In that regard, the State Commission on Coordination of the events dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide must not restrain the composition and structure of the Council being established.
-The Council may have regional and panel committees.
-The sessions of the Council need to be held at least once a year in the capital of the Republic of Armenia;
-The Council needs to convene a session at least once a year in the capital of the Republic of Armenia;
-The Council needs to have a common and permanent agenda of sessions that must include the following:
(a) discussion on the annual comprehensive report on the state of Armenians in the world;
(b) discussion on the issues related to international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide and elimination of the consequences;
(c) synthesis of pan-Armenian events.
By the adopted decision, the organizing committee has been assigned to develop the draft of the decision on the establishment, constituent composition and structure of the Pan-Armenian Council and deliver the draft to the members of the Commission and regional committees byApril 15, 2016. The organizing committee has also been assigned to organize with members of the State Commission consultations devoted to the concept paper, structure and procedure of activities of the Council, prepare for the first session of the Council and notify the members of the Commission about the venue and schedule of the first session by July 15, 2016.
By the decision, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hagopian has been assigned to draw up the first report entitled “The State of Armenians in the World” by collaborating with the RA Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Culture, Education and Science and the bodies and structures existing within those ministries, as well as by organizing consultations with Diaspora Armenian organizations and regional committees that are part of the State Commission. The Minister of Diaspora has also been assigned to submit to members of the State Commission and the heads of regional committees the draft of the report by May 1, 2016 in order for them to discuss it and present their constructive observations. To develop procedures for partnership with the Pan-Armenian Council, it is also envisaged to hold consultations with the regional committees.
During the session of the State Commission, President Serge Sarksian mentioned that the submitted document will be an outline and will be open for new proposals.
Relevant organizations, as well as experts and intellectuals concerned about this issue may present their proposals.
