Summary Note On ART Annual Meeting

The ART annual meeting took place on October 16 in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. About 60 participants to the meeting were ART partners from the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Catholic and Armenian Evangelical Churches, local NGOs, ecumenical agencies, volunteers and beneficiaries from ART established centers.
His Eminence Archbishop Pargev Martirossyan opened the meeting and gave a welcome and farewell address to those present. Archbishop Pargev resigned from the Chair position of the ART Board of Trustees and introduced his youthful successor, Bishop Markos Hovhannisyan, Primate of Gegharkunik Diocese.
A presentation on “Armenia and Region: possible scenario” was made by political analyst, Mr. Richard Giragosian, director of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies. It is a usual practice at ART annual meetings to invite an expert for a presentation and discussion over an issue actual at that moment of time. The ART took an opportunity to jointly reflect on the regional developments and hear professional analysis and opinion on mentioned theme.
The annual report of ART programme and financies for 2008 and update of activities for 2009 was presented by ART staff. The report was made with the reflection of the ART “Strategy Paper of 2007-2010” which serves basis for the ART three-year programme, including integrated community development, capacity building and peace and reconciliation strategic directions of ART work. The ART programme works on local and international levels. It addresses economic, social, spiritual, educational and environmental issues in communities, develops and strengthens capacities of ART implementing partners, promotes regional reconciliation dialogue and peace building.
As ART three-year programme is coming to end in 2010, the ART launched a discussion to collect suggestions and ideas of partners towards the ART activities for the coming years. As a follow up of this meeting, there will be another consultation with the partners (tentatively in November) to conceptualize and precise ideas.
The second half of the meeting was chaired by Rev. Fr. Hovakim Manukian, head of Inter-religious department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, member of ART Board of Trustees. The meeting was closed by new Chair of the ART, Bishop Markos Hovhannisyan.