A concept has been developed to restore the “Artashat Capital” archaeological site and transform it into a tourism hub, following nearly a year of studies carried out by the French Development Agency (AFD) in cooperation with Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and the EU Delegation in Armenia.

The ministry said the concept was presented at the Komitas Museum-Institute, attended by Minister Zhanna Andreasyan, Deputy Minister Alfred Kocharyan, Head of Cooperation Section of the EU Delegation to Armenia Frank Hess, and a representative of the French Development Agency.

Welcoming participants, Andreasyan said the historic capital of Artashat is one of the most important symbols of Armenia’s statehood and remains insufficiently explored. According to the development concept, the site is expected to become one of the country’s most visited destinations in the coming years.

“This monument reflects our state traditions from centuries ago. The aim of the programme is to fully present and realise the site’s potential, both in terms of preserving and transmitting cultural heritage and developing it as a tourist destination. International experience and cooperation are essential in developing the roadmap, which will ensure a worthy approach to presenting the historic capital of Artashat to the public and tourists as a sign of respect for our history,” Andreasyan said, thanking all parties involved.

She added that engagement with cultural environments significantly changes perceptions of architectural thinking, design features and engineering infrastructure.

Andreasyan also said work has long been under way to make the Getamerdz district of the historic capital of Artashat more accessible to the public. Design work is ongoing for site improvement, road separation, restoration and reinforcement.

At the same time, construction of a modular centre, including a waiting area, is under way in cooperation with the community. Archaeological excavations were carried out in the Getamerd district in 2025 by order of the ministry, and a project has been commissioned for the reinforcement, restoration and improvement of the excavated sections. Steps are also being taken to further improve accessibility of the district for tourists.

Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Greece, Tigran Mkrtchyan, held meetings with Central Macedonia Governor Athina Athenasiadou and Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis during a working visit to Thessaloniki.

This was reported by the Armenian Embassy in Greece.

During the meetings, Ambassador Mkrtchyan discussed prospects for interregional and decentralised cooperation with Armenia. In talks with Governor Athenasiadou, the sides focused in particular on opportunities to establish cooperation in three main areas: innovative technologies, tourism and culture. In this context, the potential for joint participation in various programmes within the European Union framework was highlighted.

In discussions with Mayor Angeloudis, the sides addressed events organised and planned during the year through joint efforts of the Armenian Embassy in Greece and the Honorary Consulate of Armenia in Thessaloniki, including events marking the 35th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. They also discussed the possibility of celebrating bilateral city days.

The importance of introducing a new methodology for presenting the rich Armenian presence in Thessaloniki was emphasised, taking into account the significant increase in tourism to Greece’s second city and surrounding areas during the summer period, including from Armenia.

The ambassador also briefed his interlocutors on regional developments, Armenia’s process of unblocking and normalising relations with its neighbours, and recent achievements in Armenia–Greece bilateral relations.

Ambassador Mkrtchyan thanked the mayor for hosting an exhibition in February 2026 at the city hall as part of the “Universe Art” international competition-festival, titled “Greek and Armenian mythology through the eyes of children”, featuring around 100 works by children aged 5 to 18 from Armenian art schools.

Honorary Consul of Armenia in Thessaloniki Akis Dagazian also attended the meetings.

A regular meeting of the inter-agency commission coordinating the organisation and staging of the “Tour of Armenia” international professional cycling race, scheduled to take place in Armenia on September 10–13, was held under the chairmanship of Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan.

According to the ministry, the meeting was attended by Deputy Minister Hasmik Avagyan, Chief Secretary Hasmik Hakobyan, Director of consulting company RCS Napoli Micelle, which provides advisory support for the organisation of the race, as well as other officials and representatives of a number of state and sports bodies.

Andreasyan thanked members of the commission for their cooperation and readiness, stressing the importance of coordinated efforts to ensure the proper organisation of the event.

During the meeting, participants discussed proposed route options developed after extensive study. According to the proposals, the routes will cover road sections in Yerevan and the regions of Gegharkunik, Tavush, Lori and Aragatsotn. Potential issues along the routes were identified, along with measures to align them with the requirements of the race, determine route centres and ensure the availability of necessary infrastructure.

The importance of effectively showcasing Armenia’s landscapes during the race was highlighted, with emphasis on the event’s role in developing tourism in Armenia, particularly in promoting cycling tourism.

The meeting also addressed preparatory and organisational work, as well as ensuring proper implementation of marketing and awareness campaigns.

Andreasyan stressed the importance of coordinated organisation, strict adherence to deadlines and full compliance with international standards, noting that the quality of work depends on effective cooperation among the stakeholders.

The multi-day race is expected to feature experienced cyclists from around 20 teams, each consisting of six members.

Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, has published an article in the international magazine Forbes. The minister announced the publication on his social media page.

The article, titled “Why Small Can Be Mighty In The AI Era,” explores the impact of artificial intelligence on the global redistribution of power.

In a Facebook post, Hayrapetyan said that while economic influence was once determined by natural resources, capital and industrial scale, artificial intelligence is now reshaping that balance.