RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan received Austrian Armenologist, Director of the Institute for Christian East Studies at the University of Salzburg, Head of the Department for Armenian Studies Jasmine Dum-Tragut, who is currently participating in the second International Congress of Armenian Studies at the Matenadaran, Mesrop Mashtots Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts.

ESCS Deputy Minister Alfred Kocharyan also participated in the meeting.

The Minister welcomed Jasmine Dum-Tragut and highlighted her activities in the field of Armenian studies, as well as her close and productive collaboration with the RA ESCS Ministry. Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized the strategic significance of the advancement of Armenology, pointing out that it is one of the priorities of the RA Government. According to her, Armenian studies has the necessary potential to hold an internationally competitive position in the fields of humanities and social sciences.

Zhanna Andreasyan also suggested considering the development of cooperation between the University of Salzburg and higher education institutions of Armenia through the implementation of joint programs.

Jasmine Dum-Tragut expressed her gratitude for the reception and presented the activities and upcoming programs of the Department for Armenian Studies at the University of Salzburg.

As part of the “Teaching Armenian language and Armenian Studies in Foreign Countries” program funded by the state budget of the Republic of Armenia, the courses “Armenian Language – Grabar”, “Middle and Modern Armenian”, and “Armenian Linguistics” are being implemented at the Cultural Sciences and Theological Faculties of the University of Salzburg. In addition, separate series of lectures are planned on Armenian history, the History of Armenian Culture Armenian Church, and other topics. In addition to courses, the university also implements other research programs, publications, and conferences. In this context, the possibilities of further development of the department's activities were also addressed.

The Arakelots Monastery Complex and settlement, nominated by Jasmine Dum-Tragut, were earlier included in the “Seven Most Endangered” heritage sites program of the European Heritage Leading Civil Society Network “Europa Nostra” and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Institute.

Presenting the project, Jasmine Dum-Tragut noted that it involves a comprehensive survey of the Arakelots monastery complex and settlement, improvement and preservation of the site, as well as the development of sustainable ecotourism with the participation of local stakeholders, academic institutions and non-governmental organizations.

The meeting also addressed issues related to the conference held last year at the Complutense University of Madrid with the participation of Armenian Studies Centers, as well as the holding of the upcoming conference at the University of Salzburg.

Reference was also made to the implementation of joint programs with the Language Committee for the advancement of the Armenian language, as well as a number of issues related to the development of Armenology.