Goriz, the new program dedicated to the future leaders of the Armenian Diaspora in Europe
Goriz first seminar took place in Venice, Italy, a major Armenian Cultural place, from 1 to 3 May 2009. Participants and speakers stayed at Collegio Samuel Moorat Raphaël where the seminar also occurred in a beautiful room also very well equipped. 19 participants from Belgium (1), France (5), Germany (5), Spain (4), Bulgaria (3) and Italy (1) attended the seminar. All were young Armenian professionals living in Europe, selected according to the quality of their studies and professional background, capacity of leadership, motivation and involvement in the Armenian community of their country.
To start with, the objectives of the seminar were recalled by Alexis Govciyan, Nadia Gortzounian and Nicolas Tavitian. They also recalled that the idea of Goriz emerged after Brussels and Valence Seminars organized by AGBU Europe, which had already proved the necessity to train and accompany future leaders of the Armenian Diaspora in Europe to face the 21st century challenges. Lobbying, media training, visits of the European institutions, the work will indeed be on European level. Goriz is also a recognition that we are working on the long-term. In a few years, we will be able to measure success.
Debate on Economic and political issues related to Armenia
• Annie Jafalian, Professor at the Jean Moulin-Lyon III University geopolitical analyst, specialist of the Caucasus and AGBU Europe Board Member, presented three main topics:
• Armenia’s institutions
• Nagorno Karabagh
• Armenias’s international policy
Alexis Govciyan presented the example of CCAF (Co-ordination Council of Armenian organisations of France) which is the representative body of the French-Armenian Community. It unites the major political, cultural, educational, religious and social organisations of the Armenian community.
After AGBU-HAIK presentation of its aims and activities in Germany, Ioanna Vauthier followed by the presentation of AGBU Europe activities and goals.
Alexis Govciyan and Nicolas Tavitian presented the relationships between Armenia and Turkey and a debate occurred between participants and speakers.
Nicolas Tavitian, lobbying specialist, highlighted some key theoretical points to know about how to build an efficient lobbying strategy. First, he stressed on the need for people working in institutions to get some information and advice about Armenia and its Diaspora. Indeed, they often do not know a lot about it.“Lobbying” is a mean to influence the policy of an institution. A “policy” refers to what the institutions are planning to do and what they think about you.
Participants have been gathered in five groups of about four people from various countries and backgrounds. They were asked to think about a lobbying action that could be implemented around one of these 3 axes:
- Social integration
- Image regarding public authorities
- Education and self awareness
Other presentations
Yervant Zorian, AGBU Central Board Member, presented the Armenian Virtual College, the first virtual Armenian school. 50% of its goals are to promote the Armenian Culture and language and 50% are to interact with other Armenians (“virtual friends”). It is mostly aimed at High School and University students but also general public. Courses of Armenian languages, history and culture are available in 6 languages.
Armen Verdian presented the project he is now working on in Armenia consisting in providing women from the North of Karabagh with cows for a determined period and then providing other women with it once they it has had babies. The constat was that food lacked in this part of Karabagh. The objective is to secure a source of revenue and to feed those women who are often widows with numerous children. The project had a good impact on population, more than 1000 children already benefited from it.
AGBU-HAIK presented the Armenian presence in Germany (media, organizations, leaders…) and the situation of the Armenian Diaspora (social and political).
Discovery of the Armenian Venice
Goriz participants had the great chance to stay and attend the seminar in Collegio Armeno Moorat Raphaël and also to discover the beautiful San Lazzaro Island. On Friday 1 May afternoon, they visited San Lazzaro Monastery Museum with a Mekhitarist priest and then had a captivating tour of the Armenian Venice with Samuel Karapetyan from Collegio Armeno Moorat Raphaël (Armenian inscriptions on San Marco Basilica entrance columns, Armenian street and Armenian Holy Cross Church).
On Sunday 3 May, the group was invited to attend the mass and have lunch with the Mekhitarist community. During the lunch, Alexis Govciyan thanked the priests for their support and recalled Goriz objectives and how important it is for future Armenian leaders of the Diaspora to know their heritage and culture. Father Kechichian answered by saying that it he was very happy to welcome those young Armenians in their Monastery because they are the heirs of their spiritual and cultural wealth. The young generation is the future of the Armenian people and therefore they must preserve their history, culture and language.
Next Goriz activities
Alexis Govciyan said at the end of the seminar that it is just starting and there is no conclusion to say. He affirmed that this was the beginning of Goriz Program which will be followed by many other activities. Media training and round tables with journalists are planned in November 2009 in Paris and the visit of the Armenian Institutions in Yerevan in April 2010, coinciding with the 95th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The feedback questionnaires sent right after Venice Seminar will enable AGBU Europe to always improve its activities and fit to participants’ expectations and needs.