Category: News

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.

Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has met representatives of organisations involved in events marking the 35th anniversary of Armenia’s independence.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister Tigran Virabyan, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra Sergey Smbatyan, as well as representatives of theatre and concert organisations involved in the programme and Background Production LLC.

According to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Andreasyan thanked those present for their efforts, responsible work and the results achieved. She said organising the Independence Day events had required a high degree of responsibility and extensive work.

“The programme celebrating the 35th anniversary of independence also brought new content. We had premieres and innovative solutions created especially for the day. It was important to convey a sense of being a citizen of the country and create a strong festive atmosphere,” the minister said, highlighting the scale of the organisational work involved.

Most of the specialists, services and resources required for the celebrations were provided through local capacity.

Andreasyan placed particular emphasis on holding high-quality cultural events in the regions, noting that concerts had taken place in four major cities – Ijevan, Vanadzor, Gyumri and Kapan – making the celebrations nationwide.

“It was important to make the festive atmosphere and content of Independence Day accessible to as wide an audience as possible, particularly people living in the regions,” she said, adding that major cultural events were also important because of the public discussion they generated.

The meeting heard that public reaction to the celebrations had been largely positive, with more than 60,000 people attending the event in Republic Square alone.

Sergey Smbatyan, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, said his experience working on similar projects in different countries allowed him to say that the organisational standards and working conditions provided at Republic Square had set a high benchmark.

He also highlighted the significance of the Symphony Orchestra’s participation in the main Independence Day event, saying it was not only an artistic choice but also an important cultural message.

During the meeting, representatives of the organisations involved in planning and delivering the events discussed the results of their joint work, the experience gained during the organisational process and other issues.

The second phase of training on the management of perishable goods, products with a short shelf life and those requiring special storage conditions has begun in Yerevan.

The programme has been organised jointly by Armenia’s Food Safety Inspection Body and the Ministry of Economy under the European Commission’s Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX) programme.

“During the first TAIEX expert mission held in July this year, specialists from the Food Safety Inspection Body had the opportunity to discuss with international experts issues related to the management, packaging, labelling, storage and transportation of perishable goods, as well as ensuring their traceability.

“At this stage, the focus is more specifically on studying the requirements for exporting plant products and fishery products to the European Union market, as well as official control systems,” the Food Safety Inspection Body said in a statement.

During the four-day training programme, speakers will cover EU phytosanitary requirements, food safety, packaging and labelling, storage and transport conditions, product traceability and border control procedures.

Particular attention will be given to export documentation and the TRACES system, including practical issues relating to animal health certificates for fishery products and phytosanitary certificates for fresh fruit and vegetables.

The authority said the training would provide participants not only with an understanding of European practices but also with the knowledge needed to apply them as effectively as possible in Armenia. It said this would help strengthen the capacity of Armenian specialists, improve the country’s preparedness to meet EU market requirements and expand export opportunities for Armenian agri-food products.

Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Vahan Kostanyan received Lou Qinjian, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China and head of the China-Armenia Friendship Group.

According to a statement issued by Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues on the Armenia-China bilateral agenda.

They addressed steps aimed at expanding and developing cooperation in the areas outlined in the Joint Statement between the Republic of Armenia and the People’s Republic of China on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership, adopted by the Armenian Prime Minister and the Chinese President in 2025.

The two sides highlighted the role of interparliamentary cooperation in developing bilateral relations and stressed the importance of increasing trade, including exports of Armenian-made goods to China.

Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Vahan Kostanyan received newly appointed Canadian Ambassador to Armenia Julie Crowley on the occasion of the presentation of a copy of her credentials.

According to Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Deputy Minister congratulated Ambassador Crowley on the start of her diplomatic mission, expressing confidence that the newly appointed Ambassador would make a significant contribution to the continued expansion of the effective cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides discussed ongoing work in the areas of cooperation outlined following the political consultations held in Ottawa in July this year and reaffirmed the importance of further intensifying trade and economic relations between the two countries.

The meeting also addressed international developments.

To mark the 35th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, the Armenian Embassy in Rome organised a special evening dedicated to music, culture and Armenian-Italian dialogue.

The Armenian Embassy in Italy said in a statement.

“In the heart of Rome, near the Holy See, a magnificent concert dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia was held at the Auditorium Conciliazione, one of Italy’s leading cultural venues. The evening featured works by Aram Khachaturian, Arno Babajanyan, Komitas and Aznavour, as well as Nino Rota, Ennio Morricone, Stelvio Cipriani, Armando Trovajoli and Riz Ortolani.

“The event was attended by representatives of Italy’s executive and legislative authorities, ambassadors and numerous members of the diplomatic corps, numerous representatives of the Armenian community living in Italy, Italian public and cultural figures and academics, as well as many Italian guests who are friends of Armenia,” the statement said.

The hall, which accommodates around 1,500 spectators, was filled to capacity. The ceremonial evening was opened by Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Italy Vladimir Karapetyan, who delivered welcoming remarks.

In his speech, the Ambassador stressed that the authorities of the Republic of Armenia, vested with a new popular mandate and led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, are consistently advancing the policy of establishing lasting peace in the country and the region. He also said that democratic institutions and the rule of law are the pillars of Armenia’s steady progress.

The Ambassador also addressed the country’s economic strategy, noting that Armenia is now open to new markets and partners. Turning to Armenian-Italian bilateral relations, he highlighted the importance of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Armenia as part of the European Political Community summit. The Ambassador also referred to the productive meetings held in Yerevan in recent days by a delegation headed by Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli.

“Giulio Centemero, a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, head of the Armenian-Italian Friendship Group and President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, then delivered congratulatory remarks. He also spoke about the peace established in the region, noting the determination and consistency demonstrated by Prime Minister Pashinyan. He also expressed Italy’s support for all initiatives aimed at consolidating peace.

“The concert was followed by a reception during which guests were served traditional dishes of Armenian national cuisine, showcasing Armenia’s rich culinary heritage,” the statement said.