RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan received the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, who is completing her diplomatic mission in Armenia.

ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan expressed her gratitude to the Ambassador for the efforts made during her tenure aimed at strengthening Armenia-EU relations and advancing the efficiency of cooperation.

“We have always initiated large-scale programs with partners from the European Union because mutual trust and collaboration are at the core. And all the achievements that exist today in the education system, in science, in the implementation of cultural and youth programs are the result of collaborative efforts,” said the ESCS Minister, highlighting the importance of the assistance provided by the European Union.

The Minister emphasized the EU's assistance to the work on the development of the “RA Education Development State Program until 2030”, emphasizing the work carried out by the “EU4 Innovation” program aimed at promoting the introduction of the new standard of general education. The importance of the implementation of the “EU-Armenia TUMO Convergence Center”, and the “Creative Industry” projects of the “EU4Armenia” program, contributing to education and culture development, was also highlighted.

The head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin also thanked for fruitful cooperation and joint work. She expressed confidence that Armenia-EU cooperation in the educational, cultural, youth and scientific sectors will be long-lasting through the implementation of new initiatives and programs.

Within the agenda of cooperation, the parties also touched upon the need for peace education including not only regional countries but also wider geography.

The Minister touched upon the humanitarian crisis caused by the blockade of the Lachin corridor in Nagorno-Karabakh․ Zhanna Andreasyan also stressed the issue of the threat to cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, for which the Ministry appealed to the head of UNESCO to send a delegation carrying out a fact-finding mission.

Summing up the meeting, ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan noted that EU Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin had been with Armenia during the toughest days – starting from the pandemic to the war: “Regardless of your position, we will always be glad to see you in Armenia. You have been with us in our most difficult days. We hope you will come to share our happy days with us,” concluded the Minister.