"ARMENIAN WOMEN'S ROLE IN THE ARMENIAN STATE BUILDING IS GREAT:" EDIK MINASYAN

The event was attended by members of the Armenian Relief Society Board from different countries, representatives of different agencies of Armenia, YSU Vice-rector Ruben Markosyan, and representatives of the university professorial staff.

Welcoming the participants, Karolin Shmavonyan, Chairwoman of the Armenian Relief Society's Central Board made an opening speech.

She mentioned that the purpose of this conference is to discuss and evaluate the role of Armenian women from the period of national revival to the beginning of the 21st century: "The Armenian woman has always played an important role in the development of our nation," - she added.

Ashot Melkonyan, Director of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences, Edik Minasyan, Dean of the Faculty of History at Yerevan State University, Lilit Galstyan, public and political figure, Teresa Yeremyan, representative of Hay Dat office of America, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the French University of Armenia, Karin Hovsepyan touched upon the importance of women's roles in the First Republic, as well as presenting the role of Armenian women in modern politics.

Director of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences Ashot Melkonyan mentioned that the Armenian Relief Society was one of the organizations which once outlined the idea of establishing pan-Armenian structures, which brought its modest but very important contribution to the restoration of the Armenian statehood in 1918.

"I attach great importance to the establishment of Pan-Armenian structures at the beginning of the 20th century, which played a decisive role in the proclamation of the First Republic of Armenia and the restoration of the Armenian statehood. This has been said very little, but the reality is that the ARS and other pan-Armenian structures have outlined the idea of creating the Armenian statehood, thus once again proving the wrong viewpoint that the Armenian state was created on the "empty land". The Armenian statehood was created as a result of a serious ideological, preparatory and organizational work," - the speaker added.

Dean of YSU Faculty of History Edik Minasyan in his report touched upon the role of Armenian women during the First Republic of Armenia, especially in the heroic battles of Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan and Gharakilisa.

"The Armenian woman really played a great role in the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia not only with her direct involvement in fighting, but also supplying weapons and ammunition, providing essential medical care, sickness, and upbringing. The role of Armenian women in the Armenian statehood has been great. During the first Armenian Republic, four Armenian women were elected members of the parliament. Armenian women played a great role in the educational, social and diplomatic activities that contributed to the establishment of the Armenian statehood," - said Dean of the Faculty of History at YSU.

Social-political figure Lilit Galstyan noted in her speech that ultimately, our country needs to use women's potential for the development, security, social justice and solidarity.

"Justice, prosperity, independence, national strong state are and will be the constant agenda of the Armenian people. These agendas will remain imperfect and vulnerable until full, comprehensive participation and devotion of the Armenian women are not ensured. The general conviction should be that the balanced representation of women at all levels of public administration stems from the interests of the state's modernization," - said Lilit Galstyan.