Մամլոյ հաղորդագրութիւններ

PARIS — On April 11–12, 2026, a conference dedicated to the mobilization of the Diaspora will take place in Paris, aiming to confront the unprecedented crises that have shaken the Armenian world in recent years.

Since 2018, the renunciation of Armenian national interests by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia — stepping back from the Genocide and Artsakh dossiers (the result of which was the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh), the threats directed against Armenian identity, and the attacks carried out against national institutions — have created an unprecedentedly critical situation for the entire Armenian world.

The purpose of the upcoming conference is to collectively discuss the situation and mobilize the Diaspora, in order to shape a unified and purposeful stance in defense and strengthening of the Armenian state, the Armenian Diaspora, and Armenian national interests in general, including the Armenian Cause.

The conference will bring together around 150 representatives from more than 25 countries, including community leaders, heads of organizations, public and political figures, scholars, experts, business leaders, and youth.

Key agenda items include:

• The strategic role of the Diaspora in addressing national issues and the political agenda
• The importance of national values and the Armenian Church in preserving Armenian identity in the Diaspora, and the challenges of the new reality
• Armenia–Diaspora relations: key issues and horizons; the Diaspora as a component of the Armenian world’s soft power
• Diaspora mobilization and revitalization in pursuit of pan-Armenian goals

The conference will conclude with a call and declaration addressed to Armenians worldwide, to be followed by political, informational, community, and other initiatives.

Diaspora Mobilization Conference Coordination Committee

diasporaconference2026@gmail.com

The Diaspora National Mobilization Conference took place April 11-12, 2026, in Paris, bringing together more than 150 distinguished intellectuals, political leaders, and public and community figures from Armenia, Artsakh and 26 countries across the diaspora. The conference provided a comprehensive assessment of Armenia-Diaspora relations amid ongoing national challenges and evolving geopolitical realities, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated mobilization around a unified pan-Armenian agenda.

At the opening session of the conference, welcoming remarks were delivered by His Holiness Karekin II and His Holiness Aram I, as well as by the speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh and acting president of the Republic of Artsakh, Ashot Danielyan. Best wishes for the success of the conference were also conveyed by ARF Bureau Representative Armen Rustamyan.

Following discussions on the four-point agenda, the conference adopted relevant decisions, outlined key priorities, and identified the steps to be undertaken in that direction.

1. The strategic role of the diaspora and the political agenda

The role of the diaspora in addressing the challenges facing the Armenian people holds strategic importance. Today, as Armenian statehood faces serious security threats and the foundations of national identity are being targeted, a pan-Armenian mobilization around national agendas has become imperative. The national and state interests and goals of Armenia, Artsakh, and the Armenian people are inseparable.

At the current stage, the key priorities of the Diaspora’s political agenda are:

Strengthening Armenian statehood: Developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic program aimed at reinforcing the Republic of Armenia’s strength and security.

Recognition and reparation of the Armenian Genocide: Despite the policies pursued by the current authorities of Armenia, the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the pursuit of reparations remain imperative.

The Artsakh issue: The issue of Artsakh remains on the agenda and includes the following practical steps:

• Pursuing the immediate release of prisoners of war
• Protecting the rights of the people of Artsakh and internationalizing the right to collective return
• Safeguarding the Armenian cultural heritage of occupied Artsakh
• Providing full support to the functioning of Artsakh’s state institutions
• Working to protect the civil rights and address the socioeconomic challenges of forcibly displaced Armenians from Artsakh currently residing in Armenia

2. The role of national values and the Armenian Church in preserving Armenian identity in the diaspora

Armenian identity is rooted in Armenian history, the Armenian Church, language, culture and national values, which constitute the fundamental pillars of the diaspora’s existence. In the current critical circumstances, the Armenian Church, as in the past, continues to serve not only as a spiritual anchor but also as a cornerstone of the Armenian people’s national and spiritual identity.

Condemning the campaign unleashed by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia against Armenian values and the Armenian Apostolic Church, it is necessary to take into account the following priorities:

• Resistance: Any step or action directed against national identity must be met with organized and unified resistance.
• Unity: Prevent division and establish strong unity around the Church.
• Education and upbringing: Strengthen and expand the educational, cultural and spiritual systems of the diaspora to ensure the preservation and transmission of Armenian identity to larger numbers of future generations. Foster in the younger generation a sense of awareness of national collective interests and the will to uphold and take ownership of them.

3. Key issues and the future directions of Armenia-Diaspora relations

The national value system is the primary source of strength for the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian nation as a whole. It must serve as the indispensable foundation for shaping Armenia-Diaspora relations and the pan-Armenian agenda. Following the 44-day war, as well as the most recent war in Artsakh and the subsequent ethnic cleansing, the policies pursued by the Armenian authorities have led to deep disappointment and disillusionment among the diaspora, giving rise to concerning tendencies of internal detachment from the homeland.

The policy of the current Armenian authorities — marked by the neglect, division and disregard of the organized diaspora and its support for the homeland — is strongly condemnable. Equally concerning is the inaction of the Armenian authorities toward Armenian communities in the Middle East facing existential threats.

Accordingly, the priorities of Armenia-Diaspora relations are:

Strategic Armenia–Diaspora cooperation: Restore and elevate institutional ties with the Diaspora to a new qualitative level.

Effective mechanisms for utilizing pan-Armenian capacity and networks: Ensure the broad participation of Diaspora professionals across various state projects and sectors, with the prospect of assuming responsibilities.

Formation of a unified Armenia–Diaspora framework: Develop and implement a unified policy across political, diplomatic, economic, scientific, military-industrial, informational and educational-cultural spheres. In this context, the Diaspora’s professional potential plays a significant role in the application of Armenian soft power.

Western Armenian is endangered: The protection and development of Western Armenian requires an active role not only from the Diaspora but also from the Republic of Armenia.

Enhancing the role of the Diaspora: Initiate professional discussions on the possible models of Diaspora participation in the governance of the Republic of Armenia and in advancing pan-Armenian issues, with the aim of achieving national consensus and legal solutions within Armenia’s political system.

4. Diaspora mobilization and revitalization for pan-Armenian goals

The need for unity, strengthening and reorganization of the diaspora around pan-Armenian agendas is indisputable.

It is imperative to consolidate the diaspora around national goals, modernize Diaspora structures and overall modes of operation, foster direct cooperation between communities and consistently strengthen collective capacity. In this process of reorganization, the full engagement of youth is especially vital.

Diaspora mobilization must be carried out around strategic programs, taking into account the following priorities:

• Strengthening the global Armenian nation and the Republic of Armenia as two components of one nation
• Supporting the process of building a strong national state
• Advancing the Armenian Cause and pan-Armenian objectives

In light of the above conclusions and outlined priorities, the Diaspora National Mobilization Conference emphasizes that, in today’s complex geopolitical environment, the vitality and strength of the diaspora are inseparably linked to the homeland.

Our unity must be anchored in enduring national values and a vision of strengthening statehood as a shared agenda. The national and state interests and goals of Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian people are inseparable.

We reject the divisive and alienating approaches adopted by the current authorities of the Republic of Armenia.

Instead, we call for the establishment of healthy, coordinated and balanced relations, which are the only guarantee for strengthening the Armenian nation and preserving Armenian statehood.

With a strong sense of national responsibility, our collective potential must serve exclusively pan-Armenian goals, ensuring a secure and guaranteed future for the Armenian people.

To this end, we emphasize the importance of the participation of all citizens of the Republic of Armenia — regardless of their place of residence — in National Assembly elections. We call on all citizens of the Republic of Armenia, including those abroad, to travel to Armenia by their own means and take part in the elections.

It is necessary to change the current authorities’ anti-national course and establish a national state-oriented path of development.

On July 18, 2026, at the initiative of the Coordinating Committee of the Diaspora Mobilization Conference, a follow-up online meeting was held for participants of the conference convened in Paris on April 11–12, 2026. The meeting brought together conference participants from Armenia, Artsakh, and 25 countries across the Armenian Diaspora.

The meeting took place at a time when the Armenian people continue to confront the consequences of the forced depopulation of Artsakh, as well as serious challenges related to the protection of the collective rights of the people of Artsakh, the international pursuit of
the Armenian Cause (Hai Tahd), the preservation of national and spiritual values, and the strengthening of the Diaspora’s united role. At the same time, the continuing democratic backsliding in Armenia has made the need for pan-Armenian unity and renewed national engagement even more evident.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review the outcomes of the Paris Conference, present the work carried out over the past three months, and discuss future steps. The Coordinating Committee reported on the activities undertaken since the conference,
including working meetings among participants of the four roundtables, the preparation of reports and summary papers, as well as eJorts to disseminate the conference’s outcomes through the press, social media, and community networks.

During the session, participants viewed a documentary video summarizing the conference, which once again underscored its significance and highlighted the positive momentum and new prospects that have emerged from it.

The final summary reports of the conference’s roundtables were also presented. These addressed the strategic role of the Armenian Diaspora, the preservation of national identity and values, the development of Armenia–Diaspora relations, and the strengthening of
Diasporan mobilization around shared national objectives.

Special attention was given to the conference’s dedicated website, where the complete conference archive will be made available, including reports, video recordings, photographs, the conference declaration, articles, interviews, and other materials. The website will ensure the long-term preservation of the conference’s work and make it broadly accessible to the public.

The concluding discussion focused on future directions. Participants reaJirmed that the principles and priorities articulated at the Paris Conference remain central components of the pan-Armenian agenda. They emphasized the importance of sustained, organized, and
united action in advancing the national interests of Armenia, Artsakh, and Armenians throughout the world.

The online meeting once again confirmed that the Paris Conference was not a one-time event, but rather the beginning of an ongoing process of uniting the forces of the Armenian Diaspora, with the objective of mobilizing its collective potential in service of strategic pan-
Armenian goals.

Diaspora Mobilization Conference Coordination Committee

diasporaconference2026@gmail.com

July 18, 2026