The leader of the Heritage Party, Raffi Hovannisian, is on a one-week visit inWestern Armenia. On October 22, he joined thousands of Armenians who flocked Tigranakert (Diyarbakir) from around the world to participate in the reopening and consecration of the Surp Giragos Church.

A group of Western Armenians, raised as Sunni Mulsims, were baptized that day at this historic Armenian Apostolic church.

“It is exceedingly important for the two peoples to engage in dialogue, but without forgetting that great, dark disaster of history, like genocide,” Raffi Hovannisian told the Hurriyet Daily News.  (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=armenians-claim-roots-in-diyarbakir-2011-10-23).

Mustafa, a Kharberd resident, and Hovannisian exchanged cards. Pilgrims fromArmenia,Istanbuland Armenian communities from around the globe were joined by Kurdicized Armenians from Turkish provinces trying to regain their identity.

Hovannisian then paid visits to Bitlis and Mush, Sulukh and Khnus where he stopped by theSanasarianAcademy. He also traveled to Van for a couple of hours (before the quake) and then arrived in Karin where he visited the building that used to house the Haraj newspaper. 

Following visits to several more Western Armenian towns, Hovannisian is to return toArmenia.