After a 29-year hiatus, the inclusion of Armenian monuments in the UNESCO list has resumed – the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Armenia

ArmInfo. After a 29-year hiatus, Armenia has resumed the process of inscription of new monuments on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This was stated by Zhanna Andreasyan, head of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports (MECS), during a discussion of the draft state budget for 2027 at a joint meeting of the parliament's standing committees, ArmInfo reported in the press service of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports (MECS). She stated that five more monuments or groups of monuments are planned to be included on the World Heritage Tentative List by 2031. "Inclusion on UNESCO's lists is not only an opportunity for international recognition but also an improvement in the quality of management, since an adequate monument management system is one of the important conditions," Andreasyan emphasized.

Currently, according to her, work is underway to prepare applications for the ancient capital of Armenia, Artashat, and the rock settlements of the Syunik region. In addition, the minister said, there are plans to nominate one of the Armenian fortresses. "Work to popularize intangible cultural heritage is also ongoing. In the coming years, we plan to submit two more sites for inclusion on the relevant UNESCO lists," Andreasyan added.

Speaking about the results achieved, the head of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture mentioned the application "Areni Cave-1:" "Prehistoric Life and Winemaking in the Arpa River Valley," as well as a joint project with Iran dedicated to the traditions of rainmaking and water worship, which aims to popularize the Armenian Vardavar site internationally. The official further stated that approximately 1.79 billion drams will be allocated for the strengthening and restoration of monuments in 2027. At the same time, she noted, restoration work is underway at nine more historical and cultural monuments through public-private partnerships. Speaking about contemporary art, the minister emphasized the importance of diversifying cultural events, expanding theater and concert activities, and decentralizing cultural life. "Next year, theater attendance is expected to increase by approximately 20%." At the same time, the implementation of new funding models for cultural institutions, which contribute to the growth of their own revenues and financial independence, continues," Andreasyan noted.

The head of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture also touched on the development of cinema, noting the potential for transforming film production into a competitive industry in Armenia. "An important tool in this direction is the mechanism for partial return of investment in film production, which is already facilitating the implementation of new film projects in Armenia. Eleven applications for film projects have been received, five of which have already received partial returns of investment in the amount of over 100 million drams," Andreasyan concluded.