4 minute read
Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan received a delegation headed by Luca Zaia, President of the Regional Council of Veneto, Italy.
Zaia arrived in Armenia to participate in the 15th Advisory Forum of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes program, being held in Yerevan from September 23 to 25. The forum is being held under the theme “Routes through Time and Cultures: Education for Sustainable Heritage.”
Also attending the meeting were Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Alfred Kocharyan and Alessandro Ferranti, Ambassador of Italy to Armenia. The delegation includes representatives of the Regional Council of Veneto and Italy’s Ministry of Culture.
According to a ministry readout, Zhanna Andreasyan, welcoming the guests, highlighted the continued development of friendly relations between Armenia and Italy and the rich agenda of cooperation, particularly emphasizing the strong ties established in the field of culture.
She said the historical and cultural ties between the two countries and professional cooperation provide a good basis for new joint initiatives.
Zhanna Andreasyan highlighted the importance of holding the 15th Advisory Forum of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes program in Armenia, emphasizing effective Armenian-Italian cooperation in the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage.
In this context, the sides discussed the preservation and restoration of the mosaic of the royal bathhouse at the Temple of Garni, carried out with the support of the Italian side, the study of the Aruch historical and cultural complex, research at the Dvin archaeological site, and the digitization of archaeological heritage.
The sides also emphasized Venice’s distinctive role in the preservation and promotion of Armenian culture and Armenian studies.
They also referred to the unveiling of a commemorative plaque dedicated to Avetik Isahakyan in Venice in April this year, as part of events marking the 150th anniversary of the renowned writer’s birth.
The sides also emphasized the program for teaching Armenian and Armenian studies courses being implemented with the support of Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports to advance Armenian studies at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. The 3rd Armenian Studies Congress, titled “Armenological Bridges: Cooperation and Sustainable Development,” will also be held in the near future.
Luca Zaia thanked the Armenian side for the warm welcome, emphasizing the importance of relations with Armenia and the great potential for further developing cooperation.
He said that strengthening relations between countries and peoples always requires building new bridges, whereas in the case of Armenia and Italy, those bridges have already been built: they need to be used.
The sides reaffirmed their readiness to continue developing Armenia-Italy cultural cooperation.