In December, the Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation published its new programming plan which outlines the Foundation’s intentions for the next five years. The primary focus of the 33-page plan is the preservation of the Western Armenian language, Western Armenians and the image of Armenians in general.
Special emphasis is placed in the programme on the preservation of national identity of Diaspora Armenians in the face of rapid globalization, as well as their responsibilities, the present-day challenges and resources.
Armenian publicist, educator, public and cultural figure Yervand Azatyan has expressed his opinion on the five-year plan of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. He says the sense of defeatism prevails in the Diaspora where the language and literature are experiencing a rapid decline. An inevitable consequence of modern trends of development is that today it became easier to admit the disappearance of the rich cultural heritage and go with the flow than fight for the right to self-preservation and identity.
“Only several intellectuals and institutions are seriously engaged in the preservation, evaluation and development of Western Armenian language. Among these institutions are Spyurk (Diaspora) Scientific Research Centre of Armenian State Pedagogical University [at the head of Suren Danielyan] and Sargis Khachents Publishing House,” said Yervand Azatyan.
