«Մենք դեռ ոչ մի բանի շուրջ չենք համաձայնվել» (շարունակություն) - Զրույցներ հայր Մեսրոպ Արամյանի հետ

The article is a continuation of the conversation between Armen Khechoyan and Karen Aghekyan with Father Mesrop Aramyan, published in the previous issue of ANIV. The material is devoted to reflecting on the paths of Armenia's development and its relationship with the diaspora through the prism of spiritual and cultural values, educational policy, and the question of the pace of social transformation.

Introduction and Methodology

The conversation is structured as a dialogue in which the interlocutors take turns raising issues concerning the diaspora's perception of Armenia, the nature of possible reforms, and the role of education as an instrument of national unification. Father Mesrop Aramyan draws on his personal experience of numerous trips to Armenian communities around the world and on the practice of establishing the "Ayb" school.

Key Thesis

The central thesis of the conversation is that establishing honest, transparent rules of the game within the country is a necessary, though insufficient, condition for solving Armenia's problems and maintaining ties with the diaspora. According to the interlocutor:

Armenia should not be limited to the role of a "passive homeland" or an object of ethnic tourism;
the country is called to become a center of spiritual renewal and a generator of advanced ideas;
prosperity in itself is not a goal and does not guarantee meaning for the nation's existence.

Diaspora and the Unity of the Armenian World

Father Mesrop rejects the notion that the diaspora's participation in Armenia's internal affairs is illegitimate, insisting on the existence of a single Armenian world united by common history and destiny. He critically assesses the idea that the diaspora's strength lies in its dispersal, believing that the true foundation for unification can only be a strong, spiritually rich homeland, rather than organizational centralization as such.

Education as a Key Factor

A special place in the conversation is devoted to the topic of Armenian school education in the diaspora, which is undergoing a crisis (the closure of the Melkonian and Mourad Raphaelian schools). The following strategy is proposed:

creating high-quality, competitive Armenian schools modeled on "Ayb" in various parts of the world;
forming national self-awareness specifically at the school stage, since subsequent higher education at non-Armenian universities will no longer lead to a loss of identity;
transforming the educational system into the main resource of "soft power" and a source of diaspora consolidation around Armenia.

Evolution or Revolution

A separate section of the conversation is devoted to the debate about the paths of transformation — evolutionary or revolutionary. Father Mesrop points out that genuine evolution must rely on the spiritual and cultural core of the people, citing China as an example in contrast to the "color revolutions" in post-Soviet countries, which he characterizes as clan struggles under external influence. At the same time, the limited time available for slow reforms is emphasized, given the rapid pace of global change.

Conclusion

The main conclusion of the conversation is that without a deep transformation of the individual — through education and spiritual-cultural upbringing — neither a stable economy nor effective political institutions are possible. It is precisely strong, competitive education, exported by Armenia to the diaspora, that is seen as the key mechanism for the genuine unification of the Armenian world and for it to acquire a common vector for the future.