YEREVAN (Yerkir)–The opening ceremony of the 7th pan-Homenetmen Jamboree took place during the evening of Saturday–July 27. In attendance at the festive event were Armenia’s Youth and Sport Minister Roland Sharoyan–National Assembly Cultural–Education and Sports Committee chairperson Shavarsh Kocharian–representative of Catholicos Karekin II–ARF Bureau representative Hrant Markarian and over 200 official guests from Armenia and abroad. More than 550 scouts from 18 different countries are participating in the Jamboree centered at the HASK campground in Byurakan–Armenia.
Overseeing the jamboree program are Homenetmen Central Committee members Jirair Sarkissian–Koko Balian–Harout Keshishian–Karnig Mgrditchian–Stepan Der Bedrossian and Bedig Sassounian.
On July 29–President Robert Kocharian paid a visit to the Homenetmen members. In his address to the scouts–Kocharian noted that "there is a longing for Armenia within the Diaspora–but particularly a need by the youth to interact with their peers–and jamborees such as this one address these needs. We have had an intense–yet interesting history–and I am convinced that we will have a bright future. We must all work together to improve this country."