National Academy of Sciences hosts iaugural international conference  on Armenian-French cultural ties

ArmInfo.  As part of the two-month long Francophonie event, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of Armenia hosted the first international academic conference  on "From the History of Armenian-French Cultural Ties."

According to a report provided to ArmInfo by the press service of the  NAS of Armenia, prominent scholars and young researchers from  Lebanon, Armenia, China, and France presented papers at the  conference, organized by the Institute of Arts. Their papers focused  on Armenian-French relations in  music, architecture, fine arts, and  theater. Honored Artist of Armenia and Acting Director of the  Institute of Arts of the NAS of Armenia Anna Asatryan, noted that  this conference will be held annually in April from now on.  "The  study of cultural ties between the Armenian and other peoples has  been the cornerstone of the Institute of Arts of Armenia's scientific  activity for decades. This is also a key area of Armenology. In this  context, the study of Armenian-French cultural ties is of great  importance," Asatryan emphasized.

According to her, each conference will feature a guest of honor. This  time, it was Hovhannes Chekidjyan, Hero of Armenia, People's Artist  of the USSR, Honorary Doctor of the National Academy of Sciences of  the Republic of Armenia, and member of the Academic Council of the  Institute of Arts of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic  of Armenia. "The maestro is a legendary symbol of Armenian-French  musical ties. It was immediately clear to us who should be the  conference's guest of honor: someone who was educated in France,  shaped by the French musical environment, who subsequently  popularized French vocal symphonic music throughout his creative  performance,"  Asatryan said.  She also announced that the Institute  of Arts of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia will  participate for the first time in the 10th International Francophonie  Sports and Cultural Games, which Armenia is set to host in 2027.

Yuri Suvaryan, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Armenian  Studies and Social Sciences at NAS RA, noted that Armenian-French  cultural ties span centuries, and continue to develop intensively  today. He recalled that the first Armenian periodical, "Arevelk"  (East), was published in France in 1855, and today, the number of  Armenian periodicals in France exceeds 215.

"Initially, Armenian-French cultural ties were driven by individuals.  Many famous Armenian figures studied and created in France: Grigor  Zohrap, Siamanto, Stepan Aghajanyan, Hakob Gyurjyan, and others.  And  when we gained statehood, these cultural ties began to acquire an  interstate character. In 1949, the Franco-Armenian Cultural Union was  established, which remains active to this day. To engage with and  contribute to global culture, we must strive to strengthen our  statehood, and culture is one of the vital instruments of that  statehood," Suvaryan concluded.