On 23 November 2021, the Chairman of the Central Board of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, Mike Kharapyan, was in Yerevan on a 12-day working visit.
The delegation representing the Central Board of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, headed by Mike Kharapyan, held official meetings with high-ranking state officials. The delegation comprised: Central Board Vice-Chairmen Hagop Andreasyan and Levon Bulukhyan; Central Board members Aleksan Garatanayan and Bardugh Galstyan (also Chairman of the ADL in Artsakh); and the Central Board’s Advisor on Armenian affairs, Vigen Khachatryan.
The first meeting took place on Friday, 26 November 2021, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan. During the meeting, a number of issues were discussed concerning the development agenda of Armenia and Artsakh, Armenia-Diaspora cooperation, and the preservation of Armenian identity in Diaspora communities.
Ararat Mirzoyan highly commended the work carried out by the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party towards resolving issues of pan-Armenian significance.
Reference was also made to the foreign policy challenges facing Armenia and the process of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
On Saturday, 27 November 2021, Kharapyan, as a representative of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party and a member of the Board of Trustees, participated in the 30th session of the Board of Trustees of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund:
The session was chaired by the President of the Board, the President of the Republic of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian. Also participating in the session were Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, and 23 members of the Board of Trustees, four of whom participated remotely.
Those present first observed a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the Armenian sons who sacrificed their lives for the security and defence of the Homeland, after which they proceeded to discuss the items on the agenda, first addressing the study-report on the targeted use of the funds collected through the nationwide “We Are Our Borders” fundraising campaign and donated to the Republic of Armenia under nine agreements between 8 October and 1 November 2020.
In accordance with the agenda, the consolidated financial and programme reports for 2020 and the budget for 2021 were approved, and the Fund’s future activities were also discussed. The Board also decided to confirm Haykak Arshamyan in the position of Executive Director for a term of three years.
There were numerous questions, to which the Fund’s Executive Director, Haykak Arshamyan, gave clear and comprehensive answers.
The Fund’s Board of Trustees once again expressed its gratitude to the hundreds of thousands of donors who made an invaluable contribution to the strengthening of the homeland during this difficult period.
On Monday, 29 November 2021, the delegation headed by the ADL Chairman visited the “My Step” Foundation, where it held a meeting with the Foundation’s Executive Director Mkhitar Hayrapetyan:
The Foundation’s Director acquainted the members of the delegation with the programmes being implemented by the Foundation concerning the development of various sectors. Emphasising that, according to experts, the fields with development potential in Armenia are artificial intelligence and quantum physics, he noted that the Foundation is implementing master’s programmes for these branches. Detailing in particular the Foundation’s scholarship programme, he pointed out that the programme, having the mission of contributing to the strengthening of human potential arising from the priorities of Armenia’s sustainable development, gives young people the opportunity to acquire professions at the world’s best universities. He also noted that, in accordance with the programme’s provisions, their graduates return to the Homeland and put their knowledge and skills at the service of Armenia’s development, and become involved in programmes for the development of professional fields.
Kharapyan highly commended the programmes implemented by the Foundation, stressed their purposefulness, and expressed the wish that the Foundation’s activities be successful and ongoing.
On Tuesday, 30 November 2021, members of the Central Board of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, headed by Chairman Mike Kharapyan, visited the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan.
The Prime Minister, welcoming the party members, noted that he was pleased with the regular meeting with ADL representatives.
The subjects of discussion were the issues of concern to us at present — the need to clarify the status of Artsakh, the circumstances relating to delimitation and demarcation, the unblocking of regional communication routes, and the roads and their control. With regard to all the aforementioned issues, the Prime Minister gave his explanations.
In particular, the urgency of further strengthening Homeland-Diaspora ties was emphasised.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of meetings and discussions of this kind, particularly in view of the ADL’s not only century-long activity for the benefit of the nation, but also its role in the present situation of the Diaspora.
Our leading comrades assured that, especially at this decisive juncture, the ADL reaffirms its unconditional support for our homeland’s people and statehood, so that all the various obstacles and difficulties facing our nation may be successfully overcome.
On Wednesday, 1 December 2021, the ADL delegation held a working meeting with the Chief of the Prime Minister’s Staff, Arayik Harutyunyan:
During the meeting, discussion concerned practical programmes to be implemented jointly in the homeland and the Diaspora, and the procedure for placing future cooperation on a practical footing.
On Friday, 4 December 2021, the delegation headed by Kharapyan visited the Parliament, where it held separate meetings with the head of the “Civil Contract” faction of the National Assembly, Hayk Konjoryan, and the faction member, Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, Deputy Vladimir Vardanyan:
During the meetings, issues relating to Armenia-Diaspora relations, as well as the possibilities of cooperation on matters of concern to the entire Armenian people, were discussed. Issues relating to the regulation of Diaspora activities were also discussed.
Within the framework of the visit, on Thursday, 2 December 2021, the Chairman of the ADL Central Board, Mike Kharapyan, also held a meeting with party members residing in Yerevan: The meeting took place at the ADL’s central representative office in Yerevan. The ADL Chairman conveyed to those present important information about the party’s activities in the recent period, and also reported on the meetings held by the ADL Central Board delegation with the Armenian authorities.
During the meeting, he also stressed the importance of revitalising party life in Armenia.
On Saturday, 4 December 2021, the ADL Chairman also visited the family of Artak Avagimyan, a member of the Artsakh Armenian Democratic Liberal Party who fell martyr during the defensive battles of Shushi in the 44-day war.
Kharapyan expressed his deepest condolences to the wife and children of the fallen comrade and urged them to remain steadfast and always feel proud of the heroic deeds of their husband and father:
He also expressed his gratitude for Artak’s devoted sacrifice, noting that he gave his life in defence of our homeland’s borders and for the peace and security of us all.
During the Yerevan visit, the ADL Chairman also held other, unofficial meetings, which will likewise serve as a positive opportunity for new cooperation in the future.
