Greece and Armenia Hold Talks to Boost Bilateral Cultural Cooperation

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni with Armenia Education, Science, Culture and Sports Minister Zhanna Andreasyan. Photo source: Culture Minister

Greece and Armenia recently held talks on possibilities for enhancing bilateral cultural cooperation.

Discussions took place between Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, Zhanna Andreasyan, on the sidelines of the 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum in Yerevan earlier in December.

The focus of the meeting was on shared modern-day challenges such as the illegal movement of cultural goods, the impact of war, and climate change.

Both ministers agreed on the importance of using new technologies for the protection of monuments, as well as enhancing their cooperation through knowledge exchange and hosting joint archaeological exhibits. One planned exhibition, “The Greeks From Agamemnon to Alexander the Great”, is expected to be showcased in Armenia.

Photo source: Culture Minister

Additionally, the two ministers discussed two new bilateral agreements under development between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture. These agreements will address the illegal movement of cultural goods and renew the Cultural Collaboration Program for the 2024-2028 period.

The discussions also included opportunities for collaboration in modern culture, particularly in the fields of cinematography, theater, and audiovisual productions. Mendoni highlighted the momentum of both countries’ arts and crafts sectors and proposed organizing joint exhibitions to celebrate their shared cultural heritage.

Minister Andreasyan invited Greece to participate in Armenia’s annual Arts and Crafts festival, which takes place every summer. She emphasized the importance of exchanging cultural goods and techniques between the two nations.

Photo source: Culture Minister

During her visit in Armenia, Mendoni toured the “Union of Hellenic Communities,” an organization that runs programs such as summer camps for children of Greek heritage. Mendoni further visited the Museum of the Armenian Genocide, where she laid a wreath alongside Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostas Fragogiannis, who was also in Armenia for political discussions.