ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan received today David Allen, Chargé d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in the Republic of Armenia.

Deputy ESCS Minister Arthur Martirosyan and Director of the US Peace Corps Armenia Office William O'Roark also attended the meeting.

Welcoming the guests, Minister Zhanna Andreasyan highly emphasized the strong partnership established between the Republic of Armenia and the United States and the ongoing development of cooperation.

“Armenia–U.S. relations have been elevated to a strategic partnership, creating new opportunities to expand cooperation, particularly in the fields of education, science, culture, and sports,” stated the ESCS Minister.

David Allen, Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Armenia, expressed gratitude for the reception and productive cooperation, emphasizing the significance of the programs implemented jointly with the ESCS Ministry. As he stated, various educational initiatives are currently implemented within the framework of bilateral cooperation, in particular, exchange programs between higher education institutions, English language teaching initiatives, etc. David Allen particularly highlighted the cooperation of the ESCS Ministry with the US Peace Corps, whose volunteers implement English language teaching and community intercultural programs in the regions of Armenia.

William O'Roark, Director of the Peace Corps Armenia Office, also expressed his gratitude for the reception and the collaboration established with the Ministry. He reported that the Peace Corps has been operating in Armenia since 1992: throughout this time, over 1,150 volunteers have served in Armenia.

Currently, 41 Peace Corps volunteers are serving in 7 regions of Armenia. Recently, another 31 volunteers have arrived in Armenia and are undergoing preparatory training: studying Armenian, familiarizing themselves with Armenian culture, and taking part in methodological courses in teaching English. It is planned that upon completion of the training, they will work in schools, colleges, and some will also work in universities. O'Roark also noted that over ten volunteers will carry out their mission in regional youth centers established by the state.

ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan placed special emphasis on the cooperation with the Peace Corps, noting that the operation of youth centres is one of the key directions of the Ministry's strategy. Emphasizing that the network of youth centres is continuously expanding across various regions of Armenia, the Minister proposed considering their inclusion in the next phases of the programs implemented by the Peace Corp Armenia Office.

During the meeting, the parties also touched upon the advancement of technological education and the possibility of cooperation with American technological universities within the framework of the “Academic City” initiative. Zhanna Andreasyan noted that an effective collaboration has already been established among various universities in Armenia and the USA, whilst also emphasizing the broader potential for development.

Other issues of bilateral interest were also addressed during the meeting.