Anna Hakobyan's Foundations to Collaborate with the UAE

On October 7, the wife of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Anna Hakobyan, who is also the chairwoman of the boards of trustees of the "My Step" and "City of Smile" charitable foundations, hosted the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed Al Zaabi, in Armenia. The meeting was also attended by Consul Ahlam Al Salami and the Executive Director of the "My Step" foundation, Hovhannes Ghazaryan.

In his remarks, Ambassador Mohammed Al Zaabi emphasized that he is happy to work in a country that values tolerance, humanitarianism, peace, and creativity. According to Anna Hakobyan’s office, the Ambassador highlighted that during his diplomatic mission, he has received significant support from the Prime Minister, the President, and the members of the government. "Their doors are always open, and I thank the government for its support. One of the main purposes of today’s meeting is to get to know you. The UAE, as a state, is involved in humanitarian activities and plays a significant role in this sector in many countries around the world. There are opportunities for us to collaborate through our foundations. I have read extensively about your foundations and informed my government about them. We are eager to cooperate," said the Ambassador, presenting several projects that could be implemented in 2020.

The Ambassador stressed that his personal interests are particularly in programs for children's support. He explained that due to his diplomatic mission, he has little time to devote to his family and misses his children a lot.

"Thank you very much, first of all, for your words about Armenia. Humanitarianism, tolerance, and peace are priorities not only in our country and region but also worldwide. The new government of Armenia and the people are committed to being ambassadors of these universal values, protecting and assisting the weak and vulnerable, and striving to restore equality in the world. The UAE is known for its image as a country that makes significant contributions to humanitarianism and charity. I am very pleased that the beginning of cooperation is being established between the foundations I lead and the Emirates, thanks to the Ambassador, for which I am very grateful and delighted," Anna Hakobyan said, emphasizing that the foundations and the Emirates can be good partners in charitable, humanitarian, and peace-building projects.

"Children, vulnerable groups, people with illnesses or disabilities are at the center of our attention. However, our overall approach is not just to make charity; we also want to implement development programs so that people can eventually meet their own needs. We wish to involve all vulnerable groups in development programs. In this context, I place great importance on the project aimed at overcoming poverty in stages, where we try to help socially disadvantaged families gain skills, obtain jobs, and have a sustainable livelihood after the completion of the program. This year, we are working with 27 such families. In the near future, the number will reach 40. However, the potential families that can be included in this program are thousands. We intend to continually work in this direction. A close relationship with the Emirates could be very beneficial and effective not only for the beneficiaries of our cooperation but also apart from the foundation’s activities. As the Prime Minister's wife, I am ready to do everything in my power to deepen and strengthen the relationships between our two countries," Anna Hakobyan added, noting that relations between different countries are based on human relationships, and through mutual visits, it will be possible to strengthen the ties between the two countries.