On October 6, the regular meeting of Armenia’s National Commission for UNESCO was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, chaired by Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Chairman of the Commission.
In his opening remarks, Minister Mirzoyan addressed Armenia’s priorities for engagement in multilateral platforms, issues related to cooperation with UNESCO, and initiatives stemming from the country’s foreign policy agenda.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan, Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan, as well as representatives of the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister, Yerevan Municipality, Matenadaran and other government agencies.
During the meeting, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan presented Armenia’s initiatives for new entries on UNESCO’s Tentative and World Heritage Lists and the Intangible Cultural Heritage List, as well as ongoing work on applications for inscription on the Memory of the World International Register.
The meeting also addressed steps aimed at ensuring Armenia’s active engagement in the fields of culture and education, including the membership of Armenian cities in the Creative and Learning Cities Networks, increasing participation in UNESCO’s Associated Schools Network (ASPnet), and introducing innovative approaches across these areas. Participants exchanged views on proposals to include anniversaries in UNESCO’s calendar for 2028-2029.
In discussing the benefits of implementing various programmes, participants stressed the importance of making strategic choices regarding such initiatives, including from the perspective of their impact on Armenia’s economic development and directly on public life.
Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan emphasized the interconnectedness of environmental protection and the preservation of natural heritage, as well as the prospects for developing international cooperation in this area, including opportunities for Armenia as the host country of the COP17 conference. Among other initiatives, the meeting addressed efforts to step up cooperation within the framework of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Robert Abisoghomonyan presented recent efforts and achievements aimed at expanding Armenia’s representation in UNESCO’s expert bodies. The participants outlined further steps and initiatives in areas of priority for Armenia, including within the framework of the “Education for Peace” vision.
The meeting also featured an exchange of views on the continued development of the Commission’s structural and professional capacity in line with the expanding areas of cooperation with UNESCO.
