President meets with Armenian community representatives in India

The first day of President Serzh Sargsyan’s working visit to India was concluded with a late meeting held with the representatives of the Armenian community.

The President addressed the meeting with greeting remarks, in which he touched upon the historical affinities and interactions between Armenia and India, the key role played by the Armenian community in strengthening our two peoples’ centuries-old friendship, Armenia-Diaspora relations, the challenges facing the Motherland and Armenians all over the world, the ways of dealing with them, as well as on the latest noteworthy developments in Armenia’s public life, including the country’s transition to full-fledged parliamentary governance following the referendum.

During the meeting, Serzh Sargsyan answered the questions of interest to community representatives, taking note of their success stories, problems and expectations from the Motherland. The Head of State was briefed on the Armenian community’s daily activities.

At the request of those present, President Sargsyan dwelt on the matters discussed and the agreements reached during today’s meetings with India’s top leadership that were aimed at strengthening the historical ties between the two friendly States and peoples. The President said he was pleased to see Dr. Daljeet Singh Chauhan, the President of Yerevan Medical University Alumni Association among the attendees. Serzh Sargsyan expressed conviction that the great number of Indian graduates and alumni of Armenian higher educational institutions is another bridge for friendship between the two nations that should be further strengthened and expanded.

President Sargsyan stated with satisfaction that Honorary Consul Shivkumar Ishwaran was making joint efforts with the Armenian Embassy in India and expressed the hope that their common initiatives would be fruitful.

“We have to be united on the way to overcoming challenges and solving our problems. Our great thinkers used to speak of unity, and it is no secret that according to our people’s belief, we come together when our homeland proves in danger. Today, we need to be as much united in relatively peaceful conditions, because we are facing serious challenges that call for even greater efforts. We have a great source of strength: we are bound by circumstances that make a paramount imperative of the idea of unity, namely Armenia’s independence, Artsakh’s freedom and the power of Diaspora. We keep repeating: Armenia is strong with the Diaspora, and the Diaspora will survive through Armenia,” the President underscored, concluding his remarks.

President Serzh Sargsyan gave an interview to Doordarshan Public Broadcaster on the agenda and the development prospects of Armenian-Indian interstate relations, the potential for trade and economic partnership, Armenian-Indian historical and cultural affinities and a number of other issues.