Speaker: Promoting the concept of "Real Armenia" does not mean abandoning our history or ties to the Armenian Diaspora

ArmInfo. "We must be able to combine Armenia's potential with international experience and the Diaspora's connections," said Ruben Rubinyan, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, at the opening ceremony of the Third World Armenian Summit.

Welcoming the event's participants, the speaker noted that 800 Diaspora representatives from 55 countries are participating in the summit. These include representatives of Armenian communities and organizations, scientists, businessmen, cultural figures, educators, and public figures.

"Your presence testifies to the great potential for dialogue on Armenia's future and, in general, on our common future. The two previous summits have become an important platform for dialogue between Armenia and the Diaspora. Today, our task is not only to strengthen existing ties but also to give new meaning to cooperation." Today, when discussing relations between Armenia and the Diaspora, we cannot ignore the ideology or concept of "Real Armenia." What is Real Armenia? It is our state with its internationally recognized territory, borders, citizens, state institutions, democratic system, and aspiration for development. It is our homeland, where we live, work, create, make decisions, and bear responsibility for our future and the future of generations. Promoting the concept of "Real Armenia" does not mean abandoning our history, national identity, culture, or ties to the Armenian Diaspora. "On the contrary, this means transforming our rich heritage into the foundation of strong statehood and modern development, as well as turning the state into the center of all national dreams and goals," the speaker noted, as quoted by the National Assembly press service.

Pointing to the thousand-year history and significant contribution of the Armenian people to world civilization, Rubinyan noted the existence of a diaspora that has preserved its identity in various countries and achieved great success in science, technology, business, culture, and public life.

"This is our wealth. However, we are also faced with the task of channeling this wealth into the future and into Armenia. I mean both the political and economic, and, yes, the physical sense. And the future is built through a strong, secure, democratic, and developing state. A real Armenia must be a country where peace reigns." This is not a temporary end to the conflict, but an opportunity for development and the foundation for a normal life, where the rule of law, human rights, and democratic institutions are a daily reality. The Diaspora can also contribute to the development of such an Armenia. We do not want to limit relations between Armenia and the Diaspora to patriotic feelings, historical memory, or charity alone. These are important, but our cooperation can and should be much more comprehensive. We want to see the contribution of Armenian specialists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and youth of the Diaspora to the development of Armenia's economy, science, education, sports, healthcare, technology, and culture. And if this contribution takes the form of repatriation, we, the Armenians of Armenia, will be extremely happy, as any brother and sister are happy when they are reunited. We need not only investments, but also knowledge, experience, innovation, professional connections, and joint projects. Armenia must become a platform for international cooperation and new opportunities.

The topics on this summit's agenda—from democracy and regional peace to economics, education, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and environmental protection—reflect precisely this aspiration. The recent COP17 conference held here once again demonstrated that our country is capable of hosting world-class events and contributing to the global agenda. We must be able to combine Armenia's potential with the international experience and connections of the diaspora. At the same time, we must understand that the diaspora is not a unified and homogeneous structure. It has different histories, environments, priorities, and approaches. Our task is to listen to each other, respect differences, and find common ground for cooperation. Relations between Armenia and the diaspora must be based on mutual respect, trust, and real action. I believe this summit should not be limited to good discussions and beautiful formulations. It should become a starting point for concrete ideas, initiatives, and new cooperation programs. Our goal is for the connections and agreements formed during these days to continue after the summit," the head of Armenia's legislative body concluded.