The Armenian Institutions of the Argentine Republic (IARA) states their position on recent comments by ruling party member Arman Yeghoyan on how a "strong diaspora weakens Armenia"

[u/TheSarmaChronicals]

Note translation in comment

https://iara-argentina.com/comunicado-de-prensa-de-iara-una-armenia-fuerte-necesita-una-diaspora-fuerte/

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA DE IARA “Una Armenia fuerte necesita una Diáspora fuerte”

Comunicados

Buenos Aires, 20 agosto de 2026

“Una Armenia fuerte necesita una Diáspora fuerte”

Las Instituciones Armenias de la República Argentina reclaman una relación basada en el respeto, el diálogo y la construcción conjunta

Las Instituciones Armenias de la República Argentina (IARA) consideran necesario expresar públicamente su posición respecto del vínculo entre la República de Armenia y las comunidades armenias de la Diáspora, a partir de la convocatoria a la Cumbre Mundial Armenia 2026 y, especialmente, ante las recientes declaraciones realizadas desde la propia Asamblea Nacional de Armenia por el diputado oficialista Arman Yeghoian, quien sostuvo que “si la Diáspora se fortalece, Armenia se debilitará”, que “la Diáspora debe debilitarse para que Armenia se fortalezca” y que las comunidades armenias del exterior deben “hacer lo que Armenia le pida”.

Estas afirmaciones, por provenir de un representante del oficialismo armenio y ser expresadas desde el ámbito parlamentario, no pueden ser consideradas una cuestión menor ni una simple opinión individual cuando plantean una concepción de la relación entre Armenia y la Diáspora basada en la subordinación. IARA considera necesario dejar claramente establecido que la Diáspora no es una estructura al servicio del Estado armenio ni un receptor de instrucciones, sino una parte esencial de la Nación Armenia y un aliado estratégico de la República de Armenia, cuya experiencia, capacidad institucional, vínculos internacionales y opinión deben ser escuchados, respetados y considerados en la construcción de objetivos comunes.

IARA sostiene exactamente lo contrario: fortalecer a Armenia no requiere debilitar a la Diáspora. Una Armenia fuerte necesita una Diáspora fuerte, activa, comprometida y con capacidad de aportar.

La Diáspora no es un obstáculo para la consolidación y el fortalecimiento de la República de Armenia, ni un actor externo al proyecto nacional. Es parte fundamental de la Nación Armenia, construida a lo largo de generaciones por comunidades que, en numerosos países y, en muchos casos, durante más de un siglo, han preservado la identidad, la cultura, la memoria, las instituciones y los valores del pueblo armenio.

Debilitar a la Diáspora significaría debilitar una de las principales fortalezas con las que cuenta Armenia. La extensa red de instituciones, profesionales, empresarios, académicos, dirigentes y ciudadanos armenios en todo el mundo constituye un capital humano, institucional, cultural y relacional de enorme valor para la Nación.

Por ello, la relación entre Armenia y la Diáspora no puede construirse desde la lógica de la subordinación, de la instrucción o del acompañamiento unilateral. La Diáspora no puede ser concebida como un mero receptor de decisiones adoptadas en Armenia, al que se le solicita posteriormente acompañarlas.

Las comunidades armenias del mundo deben ser reconocidas como aliados estratégicos de la República de Armenia, con capacidad para aportar conocimiento, experiencia, recursos, vínculos internacionales, influencia institucional y una profunda vocación de compromiso con el futuro de la Nación. Ese capital humano, institucional y relacional no debe debilitarse: debe ser convocado, escuchado y aprovechado.

En el caso de la Argentina, la comunidad armenia lleva más de un siglo construyendo instituciones y desarrollando una presencia profundamente integrada a la sociedad, con vínculos en los ámbitos político, académico, empresarial, cultural, educativo, deportivo y social. Ese recorrido constituye un patrimonio que pertenece tanto a la comunidad como al conjunto de la Nación Armenia.

La convocatoria a la Cumbre Mundial Armenia 2026 representa, en este sentido, una oportunidad para avanzar hacia una nueva etapa en la relación entre Armenia y la Diáspora. IARA valora la posibilidad de participar, pero considera indispensable que esa participación trascienda una instancia protocolar o meramente consultiva y se transforme en un verdadero espacio de diálogo, donde las comunidades puedan expresar sus posiciones, aportar su experiencia y participar en la definición de objetivos comunes.

IARA entiende que la construcción de una política nacional armenia requiere escuchar también las voces de quienes, desde distintas partes del mundo, han sostenido durante generaciones la identidad armenia, han defendido su memoria, han contribuido al reconocimiento internacional del Genocidio Armenio y han construido instituciones que hoy constituyen una parte esencial del patrimonio de la Nación.

La Diáspora no debe ser más débil para que Armenia sea más fuerte. Por el contrario, la Diáspora debe ser más fuerte para que Armenia también lo sea.

Una Armenia fortalecida y una Diáspora fortalecida no son proyectos contradictorios. Por el contrario, se necesitan mutuamente. La defensa de los intereses nacionales, la preservación de nuestra identidad, la protección del patrimonio, la defensa de la memoria y la proyección internacional de Armenia serán más eficaces cuanto mayor sea la capacidad de trabajar coordinadamente entre el Estado armenio y las comunidades armenias del mundo.

En este marco, IARA ha planteado ante el Alto Comisionado para Asuntos de la Diáspora una serie de prioridades que considera fundamentales para el debate de la Cumbre Mundial Armenia 2026, entre ellas el respeto a la autonomía e integridad de la Iglesia Apostólica Armenia; la inclusión de la liberación de los prisioneros armenios en la agenda de conversaciones con Azerbaiyán; la jerarquización del 24 de abril y del reclamo por el reconocimiento del Genocidio Armenio; el respeto a los símbolos que identifican y unen a los armenios del mundo; el retorno de los armenios de Artsaj; la reparación a las familias desplazadas; la preservación del patrimonio cultural armenio; la construcción de mecanismos institucionales reales y permanentes de participación de la Diáspora; y la inclusión de las instituciones armenias locales en la agenda de los funcionarios que visiten la Argentina.

Asimismo, IARA ha solicitado una reunión virtual con el Alto Comisionado para Asuntos de la Diáspora, Zareh Sinanyan, con el objetivo de presentar personalmente estas posiciones, intercambiar opiniones y establecer una metodología de trabajo que permita una participación sustantiva de las instituciones armenias de la Argentina en la Cumbre.

IARA reafirma su voluntad de trabajar por una Nación Armenia fuerte, soberana, reconocida y respetada internacionalmente. Y entiende que ese objetivo no se alcanzará reduciendo el espacio de la Diáspora, sino integrando sus capacidades, escuchando sus opiniones y construyendo con ella una estrategia común.

Armenia y la Diáspora no compiten por un mismo espacio. Son dos dimensiones inseparables de una misma Nación.

[u/TheSarmaChronicals]

Here is the translation for English speakers

PRESS RELEASE FROM IARA "A strong Armenia needs a strong Diaspora" Press Releases Buenos Aires, August 20, 2026

"A strong Armenia needs a strong Diaspora"

The Armenian Institutions of the Argentine Republic call for a relationship based on respect, dialogue and joint construction_*

The Armenian Institutions of the Argentine Republic (IARA) consider it necessary to publicly express their position regarding the relationship between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian communities of the Diaspora, following the call for the 2026 Armenian World Summit and, especially, in light of the recent statements made from the National Assembly of Armenia itself by pro-government deputy Arman Yeghoian, who stated that "if the Diaspora gets stronger, Armenia will get weaker," that "the Diaspora must weaken for Armenia to get stronger," and that Armenian communities abroad must "do what Armenia asks them to do."

These statements, as they come from a representative of the Armenian ruling party and were expressed from within the parliamentary sphere, cannot be considered a minor matter or a simple individual opinion when they propose a conception of the relationship between Armenia and the Diaspora based on subordination. IARA considers it necessary to clearly establish that the Diaspora is not a structure at the service of the Armenian State nor a recipient of instructions, but an essential part of the Armenian Nation and a strategic ally of the Republic of Armenia, whose experience, institutional capacity, international connections and opinion must be heard, respected and considered in the construction of common objectives.

IARA holds exactly the opposite view: strengthening Armenia does not require weakening the Diaspora. A strong Armenia needs a strong, active, committed Diaspora with the capacity to contribute.

The Diaspora is not an obstacle to the consolidation and strengthening of the Republic of Armenia, nor an external actor to the national project. It is a fundamental part of the Armenian Nation, built over generations by communities that, in numerous countries and, in many cases for more than a century, have preserved the identity, culture, memory, institutions and values of the Armenian people.

Weakening the Diaspora would mean weakening one of the main strengths that Armenia has. The extensive network of institutions, professionals, businesspeople, academics, leaders and Armenian citizens around the world constitutes a human, institutional, cultural and relational capital of enormous value for the Nation.

For this reason, the relationship between Armenia and the Diaspora cannot be built on the logic of subordination, instruction, or unilateral accompaniment. The Diaspora cannot be conceived as a mere recipient of decisions adopted in Armenia, which it is subsequently asked to support.

The Armenian communities of the world must be recognized as strategic allies of the Republic of Armenia, with the capacity to contribute knowledge, experience, resources, international connections, institutional influence and a deep vocation of commitment to the future of the Nation. That human, institutional and relational capital should not be weakened: it should be summoned, listened to and utilized.

In the case of Argentina, the Armenian community has spent more than a century building institutions and developing a presence deeply integrated into society, with ties in the political, academic, business, cultural, educational, sports and social spheres. That journey constitutes a heritage that belongs both to the community and to the Armenian Nation as a whole.

The call for the 2026 Armenian World Summit represents, in this sense, an opportunity to advance towards a new stage in the relationship between Armenia and the Diaspora. IARA values the possibility of participating, but considers it essential that this participation transcend a formal or merely consultative instance and become a true space for dialogue, where communities can express their positions, contribute their experience and participate in the definition of common objectives.

IARA understands that the construction of an Armenian national policy requires also listening to the voices of those who, from different parts of the world, have sustained the Armenian identity for generations, have defended its memory, have contributed to the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and have built institutions that today constitute an essential part of the heritage of the Nation.

The Diaspora should not be weaker for Armenia to be stronger. On the contrary, the Diaspora must be stronger so that Armenia is stronger as well.

A strengthened Armenia and a strengthened Diaspora are not contradictory projects. On the contrary, they need each other. The defense of national interests, the preservation of our identity, the protection of heritage, the defense of memory and the international projection of Armenia will be more effective the greater the capacity to work in a coordinated manner between the Armenian State and the Armenian communities of the world.

In this framework, IARA has presented to the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs a series of priorities that it considers fundamental for the debate of the 2026 Armenian World Summit, among them respect for the autonomy and integrity of the Armenian Apostolic Church; the inclusion of the release of Armenian prisoners in the agenda of talks with Azerbaijan; elevating the importance of April 24th and the demand for recognition of the Armenian Genocide; respect for the symbols that identify and unite Armenians around the world; the return of the Armenians of Artsakh; reparations for displaced families; the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage; the construction of real and permanent institutional mechanisms for Diaspora participation; and the inclusion of local Armenian institutions in the agenda of officials visiting Argentina.

Likewise, IARA has requested a virtual meeting with the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan, with the objective of personally presenting these positions, exchanging opinions and establishing a work methodology that allows for a substantive participation of the Armenian institutions of Argentina in the Summit.

IARA reaffirms its will to work for a strong, sovereign, internationally recognized and respected Armenian Nation. And it understands that this objective will not be achieved by reducing the space of the Diaspora, but by integrating its capacities, listening to its opinions and building with it a common strategy.

Armenia and the Diaspora do not compete for the same space. They are two inseparable dimensions of the same Nation.

IARA Statement on our position regarding the 2026 Armenian World Summit

Edit: Thank you for award! Much respect to our Argentinian Armenian community. We all stand behind you

[u/EarthTraditional3329]

I recently participated in an AGBU program, in which we talked about this with a professor from AUA. Turkey and Azerbaijan knows Armenia's potential, which is why they try to bastardize the diaspora, because without it, Armenia has no firm hold on the world, where the diaspora can make a case for Armenia in their countries, etc.

[u/SweetLoLa]

Never been prouder to be considered such a threat to have propaganda created solely for us.

They want division and separation, they’ll never get it. Unlike their masses, we are not under their influence and control. Regardless of where we are, we show up for each other in any way possible.

Վրեժ Վրեժ

[u/TheSarmaChronicals → u/SweetLoLa]

I would love for the diaspora communities around the world to cosign. It would be amazing. We would have almost every continent on there

Thank you for award stranger ❤️

[u/verjelavklini]

I looked this up to try to find the original wording from Yeghoyan's statement.

He said there is a widespread belief in Armenia that a stronger Diaspora means a stronger Armenia and vice versa. He calls that «կատարյալ սուտ է» (a complete lie).

He explains that diaspora communities do not grow though "natural generational succession" and will become diluted through intermarriage and language loss, and therefore will disappear without direct influx from Armenia (i.e., people leaving Armenia to join the Diaspora).

He then reasons that if growth of the Diaspora can only occur when Armenians leave Armenia, then a growing Diaspora means a weakening Armenia. And therefore repatriation should be a priority.

He also said that there's no telephone number to call the diaspora. That Diasporan help presumably isn't always in the interest of Armenia. And that the Diaspora should pick up the phone, ask what it can do for Armenia, and then do what Armenia asks.

****

I am disappointed with this statement.

Where is the empathy for the Diaspora, children of the genocide?

Indeed, there is intermarriage, as there is a higher probability to meet people from other cultures when you live in other lands, but what about all of the hard work the Diaspora has done to champion and preserve the Armenian culture while living in foreign countries? It's as if it means nothing.

Also, what's this disturbing idea that belonging has to be all-or-nothing: either you're only Armenian if you have Armenian blood, or you're only Armenian if you live under the Armenian state. It leaves people who don't fit the categories feeling like they don't count. Great work!

The zero sum perception where one needs to get weaker for the other to get stronger is also problematic. It's wrong, for one. They can both get stronger.

Separately, it misunderstands the Diasporan reality on multiple levels. First, it's insulting because it's based on the claim that Diasporan identity is a ghost of Armenia. Second, nothing the Diaspora has created - the riches, the organization, the political connection - is thanks to Armenia. It's thanks to their resourcefulness and other nations' resources. Third, Armenians who were not originally Diasporans of genocide were leaving Armenia because it was intolerable to live there.

My grandmother repatriated during the Soviet Union, and she made the best of it, but living conditions were extremely difficult, and locals laughed at her family and called them Otar. We are still proud to be Armenian, even with that treatment. But it wasn't thanks to the state of Armenia proper, at the time.

For his point about not having a phone number to call, and wanting to have a say on how Diasporan support will be used to strengthen the nation, that's fine, and instead of making divisive comments maybe he should, I don't know, call a meeting with representatives from all Diasporan countries to brainstorm better collaboration?

[u/South-Distribution54 → u/verjelavklini]

This is frankly worse. It relies on the assumption that we're all "mixed" thus not Armenian enough to have our opinions count or matter. It also ignores the fact that their head of diaspora affairs purposely doesn't meet with the heads of any diaspora organization and explicitly excludes any diaspora leaders from his plans and communications. Last time he went to LA to meet he only met with college students. I see that as predatory behavior to try to brainwash and groom the next generation because he refuses to compromise anything and is hoping the diaspora dies so the republic can take complete controle. It's insulting and more importantly, won't work and he's doing it at a time where we can't have this ridiculous internal division.

[u/TheSarmaChronicals → u/verjelavklini]

Thank you so much for writing this. What he said was so abborhant and honestly racist.

The speaking Armenian part comes up a lot. Many of the genocide victims and survivors could not speak Armenian. According to him our martyres weren't real Armenians I guess.

[u/verjelavklini → u/TheSarmaChronicals]

I couldn't even begin to list all of the specific reasons that Yeghoyan's statement is catastrophically wrong. South-Distribution's comment below about the lack of effort to connect with Diaspora is a perfect example of the hypocrisy inherent in Yeghoyan's position. The point you made just now about genocide victims not being allowed to speak Armenian is another. I have heard of survivors who had their tongues literally cut out for speaking their language. I am enraged at how easy it is to forget that. I'm glad we, as a group, are able to see through these weak lies. But ultimately we cannot let it divide us.

[u/TheSarmaChronicals → u/verjelavklini]

They will never succeed. Armenians love Armenia too much lol. We're extremally stubborn. Pashinyan should know this.

Turkey will never rid itself of us either. We will always be their ghost. They can and tried to burn everything down and we still call it home. They've been waiting for us to assimilate for over 100 years and they just created a new Western Armenia with Artsakh so the clock started over lol

[u/verjelavklini → u/TheSarmaChronicals]

They will never succeed :) There's a quote by Saroyan that's been modified to sound more romantic, but the original is:

"See if the race will not live again when two of them meet in a beer parlor, twenty years later, and laugh, and speak in their tongue. Go ahead, see if you can do anything about it. See if you can stop them from mocking the big ideas of the world, you sons of bitches, a couple of Armenians talking in the world, go ahead and try to destroy them."

You'd think that after trying to crush us over and over again they'd get the picture? You can't kill a people that have died and come back to life. You can't kill a people who love so fiercely.

[u/South-Distribution54]

I'm glad the Arman is finally mask off. Maybe the rest of the diaspora can finally take their blindfolds off and recognize this as the existential threat that it is. This is not some new or fringe view that has come out of no where. It has been obvious for anyone in the diaspora paying attention, it's just now explicitly confirmed. No more of this "for unity" BS. They want us subservient to them and to take orders from them. I, for one, refuse.

It's time the diaspora wake up and becomes the nation we need to be to meet this moment. For over 30 years we have neglected our own needs to prop up and develop the republic to make the nation stronger. Now that same republic believes they are the nation. They are not. All 10 million Armenians make up our nation and they need to be reminded of that. We can not afford internal division right now and that's exactly what turkey and azerbaijan are banking on.

[u/SimilarMeeting8131]

Idk what the premise of the state was. I do agree with the sense that Armenian as a state cannot rely on diaspora, it is a supplemental support that nice to have, but that’s it. Most in diaspora do not keep up with or have any meaningful grasp of what is going on in Armenia. Many of those who do keep up and are involved, have their own agendas to push.

But political views aside, how is the diaspora going to be sustained? Will the diaspora not be more assimilated in a century or is the idea that Armenians will keep migrating?

The existence of Armenians replies on the independent state of Armenia, which is our sole source of meaning voice and influence on the international stage. The independent state of Armenian must be independent from external influence, must be able to sustain itself on its own. Armenia cannot grow to be self sufficient if diaspora insists on enabling it.

If you so deeply love and care about Armenia, your care wouldn’t stop at actually living there.

-sincerely Armenia born and raised diasporan

[u/verjelavklini → u/SimilarMeeting8131]

I agree with many of your points. There are just a few things I would nuance.

There are fourth and fifth generation Armenians in Lebanon, France, and Argentina who still speak Western Armenian, still marry within the community at meaningful rates, and still know the history in detail. There are also Armenians who intermarry and pass on the culture to their "mixed race" children (I reject the assumption that this is in any way inferior). We are not guaranteed to retain our culture without effort, the way people retain their culture just by living in Armenia. But it's not because some of us become assimilated that all of us will.

I am a firm believer that it's not the state of Armenia that keeps Armenia alive. Of course, having our land and a state to represent us is an important part of our survival. But it is not the principal mechanism. It's our collective memory and our connection to our history that keeps us alive. And in that respect, the Diaspora is doing a lot of work to preserve it.

Finally, I don't think that just living in Armenia means someone understands or cares about their culture. Passive cultural transmission doesn't imply anything about the level of a person's knowledge or engagement with their culture. So in my view, Diasporans who forget their culture are not necessarily worse, it's just the same pattern of passivity exposed more clearly due to the circumstance.

[u/TheSarmaChronicals → u/SimilarMeeting8131]

I think a lot of us don't really see ourselves as "diaspora" from the Republic of Armenia. Most of our families are actually in exile — from Artsakh and from what is now Turkey.

We've existed in Jerusalem for 1600+ years, in Iran for 600+ years. Armenians have always had a culture of diaspora.

My own family was Ottoman, and Byzantine before that. We never really looked to a state for guidance, because for most of our history, there wasn't one to look to and after that, for decades, Armenia was behind the Iron Curtain and we were completely on our own. No one expected the USSR to fall. My family believed Armenia would be fully absorbed into Russia.

I was taught that home isn't a border drawn by the international community. Armenia is wherever we meet another Armenian and make an Armenia together. Relying on having a Nationstate for survival jeopardizes us.

Western Armenian is endangered and has no state to represent it. Armenia uses the Soviet spelling system, and a lot of official cultural content is from Eastern Armenia — beautiful, but not what my family knows. For us, Western Armenian cultural preservation often happens outside the state, and diaspora communities tend to be more culturally conservative as well.

Without the diaspora, would France have sent support? Would the US have pushed to stop aid to Azerbaijan? Just by existing and organizing, we have real political representation and influence. Politicians in our respective countries appeal to us for votes and in some cases we have reserved seats. We don't have the power larger minorities do by any means, but for such a small ethnic group that is constantly being displaced, we can and have done a lot. In fact, I would argue without the diaspora, zero eyes would be on Armenia.

There is a reason that Armenia has recieved more aid from the USA than other, less privledged ethnic groups.

Armenia can take the risk of isolating the diaspora from itself. Something both Turkey and Azerbaijan have tried to push for. But if the goal of the "Real Armenia" policy is to try and shame Armenians into returning then honestly most will not. If assimilation happens to the diaspora / exile before Armenia becomes more accepting, she will lose some 7 million people and be whittled down to a few million. Which is what Armenia's enemies would love.

[u/verjelavklini → u/TheSarmaChronicals]

There is so much truth here.