EU Ambassador lauds Matenadaran as unique institution

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos has lauded the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts as a unique institution with a rich repository of manuscripts and a strong professional potential.

Maragos, speaking at the annual Faces of Memory international seminar (The Latest Technologies for Preservation and Restoration of Manuscripts and Printed Heritage) in Matenadaran, highlighted the significance of manuscripts and printed heritage in conveying the cultural heritage to the next generations.

“The role of today’s seminar is not only a platform for exchanging information about modern technologies, but to discuss what we need to do now to make the sector of manuscripts and printed heritage more appealing to young people, as well as the next generation of researchers. Matenadaran is a unique institution in the world with rich collections of manuscripts and a strong professional potential. It has become home to not only Armenian but also universal heritage, because culture and cultural heritage are treasures of humanity whose boundaries go beyond ethnicity,” he said.

The EU provided support to Matenadaran as part of the Horizon 2020 program. The EU Ambassador said they will continue cooperating with the institute.

“The EU supports Armenian culture, encouraging close cooperation with EU member states, including through Creative Europe program and other targeted programs. Within the EU and in our relationship with Armenia we are united in diversity and we are happy to prioritize cooperation in the cultural sector as an important direction of social and economic life, including by providing support to creative industry, cultural heritage and cultural tourism sectors. Manuscripts are unique in this regard, as we know, In the beginning was the Word,” the EU Ambassador said, quoting John 1:1 from the Bible.