Sunday, 30 September 2012
Tigran Sargsyan: No Other Relief Society Can Be Compared To ARS
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan attended a gala event dated to the 20th anniversary of the Armenian Relief Society’s (ARS) “Orphan Child Care Program” at the National Academic Theater after Gabriel Sundukyan.
Extending congratulations on the Program’s 20th anniversary on behalf of his government and himself, the Prime Minister stated in part: “Nowadays it is difficult to find another charitable organization that could compete with the Armenian Relief Society. The activity of the ARS has never been fragmented: it is one of our key structures endeavoring to the benefit of the Armenian people. The ARS has never missed an opportunity to help Armenians in need. That is why this structure is respected and loved by our people.” As the head of government put it, the ARS has never waged self-advertising campaigns, neither has it bored us with never-ending TV programs aimed at self-promotion. Tigran Sargsyan appreciated the activities of the ARS from the perspective of national identity.
“We must take great care for our fellow citizens and share in their pain. I consider it important that the 20-year-long activity of the ARS has been devoted to the sacred mission of supporting orphan children. Several thousand children every day feel the care of the ARS, and I am sure they will grow into virtuous individuals in later life and will try to help those who need help,” the Prime Minister said.
Tigran Sargsyan stressed the importance of the fact that the event was attended by Armenian children from Syria, who more than any other segment of our people are calling for help, love and special care.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the problems of Syrian Armenians are kept in focus by the President of the Republic. “We should strive to alleviate the hardships facing our people. I am glad to have the ARS as a partner in this matter. We have reached an agreement on the implementation of joint programs so that Syrian Armenians could feel that not only Armenia, but also all the Armenians are sharing in their problems. We must unite the whole nation to ease the burden of our compatriots,” the Premier noted.
The ARS-initiated Orphan Child Care Program was launched in 1992. For 20 years, 7428 children, of which 1261 without both parents and 6152 coming from killed freedom fighters’ families were assisted by some 4900 individual donors. For 20 years, through the efforts of the ARS, over USD5 million has been committed for Armenia on the part of its worldwide network.
