The Armenian People Transformed from a Pleader of Humanism to a Spreader and Preacher of Humanism: Anna Hakobyan

The wife of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the chairwoman of the board of trustees for the 'My Step' and 'City of Smile' charitable foundations, and goodwill ambassador of the 'Aurora' humanitarian initiative, Anna Hakobyan, attended the opening ceremony of the Ararat Challenge festival on October 19 at Freedom Square. The event is held within the framework of the 'Aurora' initiative. During the event, Anna Hakobyan delivered an opening speech, emphasizing the festival's idea and significance, stating that centuries later, the Armenian people transformed from being a pleader of humanism to a spreader and preacher of humanism.

Below is the full text of Anna Hakobyan’s speech:

'Representatives of the 'Aurora' humanitarian initiative, heroes of the 'Aurora' award from the past, present, and future, guests, beloved compatriots, I am happy to greet you today in the Republic of Armenia, in the capital city Yerevan, which, by the way, is today celebrating its 2801st anniversary, and I am pleased to welcome you at Yerevan's Freedom Square.

It is very symbolic that the Ararat Challenge festival is opening and being held in one of the oldest capitals, particularly in Freedom Square. Freedom Square holds unique significance in the life of the Armenian people, as dramatic events have occurred in Armenia and in the life of the Armenian people over the past 30 years, which have brewed and unfolded specifically in Freedom Square.

It was in Freedom Square that the Armenian people began their struggle for freedom and independence in 1988; it was from Freedom Square that the people began the liberation of Artsakh; and over the next 20-25 years, it was in Freedom Square that the citizens of the Republic of Armenia regularly fought for daily freedom, the right to live in a democratic country, to exercise their rights to vote and freedom of speech, and for the protection of all other rights. Finally, in 2018, the Velvet Revolution, a peaceful and unprecedented event for the whole world, began in close proximity to Freedom Square—a phenomenon that transformed the Armenian people’s image before the entire world.

Today, by participating in the Ararat Challenge festival, we again raise issues representing universal values, such as independence, freedom, human rights, peace, and humanitarianism; but this time, unlike our past history, we speak not only for our country and our people but also for the entire world. We are discussing themes of universal importance and addressing the challenges facing our planet.

This is, on one hand, wonderful and instills pride, and on the other hand, it is exceedingly natural because who else, if not the Armenian people, who have passed through the turmoil of millennia and have overcome such universal calamities as genocide, has the right and duty in the 21st century to be the vanguard and flagbearer of humanitarian issues and values of global significance?

I would like to express special gratitude to the authors of the 'Aurora' award, who initiated this very important step years ago, placing the Armenian people on the world map in a completely new light. After all, many centuries later, the Armenian people transformed from being a supplicant of humanism to a spreader and preacher of humanism.

I believe in our new role, and I believe that through this event, we will best fulfill our mission of being useful to the world. I congratulate you on this important occasion and festive day, I wish success to the festival, and I wish for fruitful ideas and exchanges.