Zhanna Andreasyan and Iran’s Vice President highlights the importance of mutual recognition of contemporary Armenian and Iranian art

As part of the official visit to Armenia by a delegation led by Seyed Hamid Pourmohammadi, Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Zhanna Andreasyan, held a meeting with the delegation.

Welcoming the guests, Minister Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized the importance of strengthening the centuries-old historical and cultural ties between the two peoples and ensuring their continuity. The Minister particularly fondly recalled the open-air concert given by the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra last year at the historic Persepolis complex in Iran, describing it as an exceptional cultural event and expressing her gratitude for the warm reception.

Seyed Hamid Pourmohammadi also stressed the importance of strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two countries, as well as preserving and developing their historical heritage.

The parties placed particular emphasis on promoting mutual awareness and recognition of contemporary art in both countries through reciprocal cultural events and joint initiatives. In particular, they discussed the upcoming concert by the Tehran Symphony Orchestra in Armenia. They also highlighted the importance of promoting Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh among Armenian readers. The work was recently published in an Armenian translation by Gevorg Asatryan.

In this context, the parties emphasized mutual participation in book festivals held in both countries, the translation of contemporary literature, and the organization of book presentations. In the field of arts, particular attention was given to promoting initiatives related to filmmaking and the organization of film festivals, building on the successful experience already gained in this area.

The possibility of implementing joint projects in the youth sector was also discussed, with particular emphasis on the prospects for organizing youth camps. The officials also viewed youth engagement as an opportunity to promote tourism development.

The meeting also addressed ways to encourage the teaching of Persian in Armenian public schools. In this regard, the development of Persian-language educational materials, professional training for teachers, and the exchange of experience were highlighted as important priorities.

The meeting also covered other issues of mutual interest.