UNESCO Archives

Iran seeks to register Armenian Vank Cathedral as UNESCO World Heritage site

January 17, 2018 By administrator

Having registered three churches in the World Heritage List, Iran is trying to add other Armenian cathedrals like Isfahan’s “Vank” to this list, IFP News reported.

Deputy Head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), Mohammad Hossein Talebian, said that there is a list of Armenian churches, three of which inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the joint exhibition of Iran and Armenia held at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran, Talebian noted that Iran is doing its best to add other important Armenian churches, such as Vank in Isfahan, to this list.

Vank is one of the most famous cathedrals in Iran and the largest one in Isfahan province in central Iran. In terms of historical paintings and decorations, it is known as the most beautiful church in Isfahan.

It is a combination of Iranian and Armenian architecture, and this has made it a unique structure in the world.

Established in 1606, the cathedral was dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Armenian deportees that were resettled by Shah Abbas I during the Ottoman War of 1603-1618.

Today, the Vank is the center of communication between the Armenians of Isfahan and the southern regions of Iran with the world and is of great importance to the Armenians.

Armenia is elected UNESCO committee member

November 11, 2017 By administrator

Armenia UNESCO committee member

YEREVAN. – Armenia has been elected member to an intergovernmental committee of the 1970 Convention of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Elections for the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP) to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation were conducted within the framework of the UNESCO General Conference being held at this organization’s headquarters in Paris, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

This committee is the intergovernmental body of UNESCO’s 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property

And from the Second Regional Group, which comprises Eastern European countries, Armenia was elected a member to this committee for four years.

In May 2015, Armenia was elected a member also to UNESCO’s Subsidiary Committee of the Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention, and again for a four-year term.

Turkey is cashing in the ancient Armenian city of Ani After UNESCO registry.

August 6, 2017 By administrator

Turkey is cashing in the ancient Armenian city of Ani After UNESCO registry. The ancient city of Ani, located on the Turkish-Armenian border and called the “cradle of civilizations” as it has been home to many ancient civilizations, has doubled its number of visitors after its registry in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Close to the Arpaçay district in the eastern province of Kars, Ani was the capital of the Armenian emperors between 961 and 1045 A.D. at the time of the Pakradouni Dynasty. Home to the 11th and 12th century structures of Islamic architecture, Ani entered the tentative UNESCO World Heritage list in 2012 and the permanent list on July 15, 2016.

The first settlement in Ani dates back to the 3000s B.C. and became home to many civilizations such as the Saka Turks, Sasanians, Bagratuni Dynasty, Byzantine, Seljuk, Ottomans and Russians.

The Amenaprgiç Church, Ani Cathedral, Dikran Honentz Church and Abugamir Pahlavuni Church are among the historical structures in the ancient settlement.

As the first entrance from the Caucasus to Anatolia, Ani hosted 21,780 visitors in 2015, one year before its registry by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. This figure increased to 42,635 after its registry.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Kars Museum Director Necmettin Alp said that interest had increased in the ancient city after it became a World Heritage Site.

“The Culture and Tourism Ministry has applied to UNESCO for Ani. It was on the additional list in 2014 and evaluations were made in 2015 and 2016. Teams from UNESCO came to Ani; deficiencies were met. On July 15, 2016, during the Istanbul meeting of UNESCO, Ani was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list as Turkey’s 16th cultural heritage,” he said.

Four Armenian cities become part of UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities

October 20, 2016 By administrator

armenia-unisco The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized four Armenian towns – Sisian, Dilijan, Sevan, and Gyumri – among its Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), Armenia’s ministry of foreign affairs reported.

According to the statement, UNESCO established the Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically its 4th Goal to encourage the growth of learning cities, accelerating the practice of lifelong learning in the world’s metropolitan areas. The launch of the initiative along with its Award took place in Mexico City on September 28-30, 2015 at the 2nd International Conference on Learning Cities.

The cities that become GNLC members benefit from participating in international policy dialogue, action research, capacity building and peer learning, and effectively using learning city approaches to promote lifelong learning for their citizens.

Any council or other elected body of an administrative unit with at least 10 000 residents may apply to become a member of the UNESCO GNLC if they commit to develop a learning city, pledge to implement the guiding documents of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities – Beijing Declaration on Building Learning Cities and Key Features of Learning Cities. The Armenian National Commission for UNESCO is authorized to review and approve applications, the ministry said.

Armenia, Dilijan listed among UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities

October 11, 2016 By administrator

unesco-diligan United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has included the Armenian city of Dilijan among its Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), the organization said in a statement.

Dilijan thus joins a dynamic network of cities worldwide that support and accelerate the practice of lifelong learning in the world’s communities, while promoting policy dialogue and peer learning among member cities through forged links and fostered partnerships that promote the progress of the learning cities, says a press release by the organization.

“It is a great honor for all Dilijan residents to receive such a coveted recognition from UNESCO as Dilijan continues to offer pioneering educational programs for preparing our citizens for the 21st century learning,” said Dilijan Community Center Program Director, Rubina Ter-Martirosyan who was instrumental in Dilijan’s selection as a GNLC member.

“Dilijan has become the designated site for such local and international learning centers as UWC Dilijan College, Central Bank of Armenia’s Training and Research Center, American University of Armenia, Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, the Dilijan Community Center as well as many artistic venues. ALl this culminated in the launch of the first Dilijan Arts Observatory this year,” Dilijan Mayor, Armen Santrosyan added.

Arne Carlsen, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, commended Dilijan’s “vision, planning and implementation of the learning city concept” in a letter of recognition and expressed eagerness to learn about Dilijan’s future developments.

Veronika Zonabend, co-founder of UWC Dilijan and the Dilijan Development Foundation which supports Dilijan Community Center and other regional projects, stated: “The goal of our foundation is to return to Dilijan its fame and further develop it into an educational, cultural and recreational regional hub. And this international recognition is an important step towards this goal.”

Inclusion in the Network will help Dilijan achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education while promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all its citizens. Additionally, Dilijan will be listed amongst other world cities recognized as a UNESCO GNLC.

Gagik Adibekyan, co-founder of the Dilijan Development Foundation and founding-partner of UWC Dilijan College stated, “We live in a complex, fast changing world, in which the competitiveness and economic growth of the country depend heavily on the quality of education. I am certain that Dilijan’s entry into the Global Network of Learning Cities will contribute to solving the important task of turning Dilijan into the educational hub of Armenia.”

Currently, there are more than 1,000 cities and communities worldwide that have become or are in the process of becoming learning/educating cities. These cities benefit from participating in international policy dialogue, action research, capacity building and peer learning, and effectively using learning city approaches to promote lifelong learning for their citizens. UNESCO established the Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) to encourage the growth of learning cities, accelerating the practice of lifelong learning in the world’s metropolitan areas.

Turkey: The archaeological site of Armenian Ani has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site

July 16, 2016 By administrator

ani-unesco The World Heritage Committee holding its 40th session from 10 July in Istanbul (Turkey) recorded during Friday’s session afternoon five new websites: a transboundary site (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia) and sites in Spain, Greece, UK and Turkey.

Cemeteries of medieval tombs Stecci (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia) – This serial has 30 sites, located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the west of Serbia, Montenegro west and central and southern Croatia, which represent cemeteries and medieval tombs, or stecci specific to these regions. These cemeteries dating from the twelfth to the sixteenth century, are organized in rows, as was the custom in Europe since the Middle Ages. The Stecci are mostly carved in limestone. They have a wide variety of decorative motifs and inscriptions that testify iconographic continuities in medieval Europe and the oldest specific local traditions.

Archaeological site of Philippi (Greece) – The remains of this fortified city spread out at the foot of an acropolis located in the present region of eastern Macedonia and Thrace, on the old road that connects Europe Asia, the Via Egnatia. Founded in 356 BC by the Macedonian king Philip II, the city then develops as a “little Rome” with the creation of the Roman Empire in the decades following the battle of Philippi in 42 BC -C. the Hellenistic monuments such as the grand Theatre and the funeral heroon (temple) are then complemented by Roman buildings as the forum. The city later became a center of Christian faith after visiting the Apostle Paul in 49-50 AD. The remains of churches are an exceptional testimony of the primitive establishment of Christianity.

dolmens site of Antequera (Spain) – In the heart of Andalusia in southern Spain, the site includes three megalithic monuments: the dolmen of Menga, Viera and the dolmen of the tholos of El Romeral and two natural monuments: the Peña de los Enamorados and El Torcal which are two visual cues within the site. Edified during the Neolithic and Bronze Age with large blocks of stone, these monuments form chambers and spaces covered with lintels or false cupolas. These three graves, buried under their original tumulus, are one of the most outstanding architectural works of European prehistory and one of the most important examples of European megaliths.

Archaeological site of Ani (Turkey) – The site is located north-east of Turkey on an isolated plateau, overlooking a gorge forming a natural border with Armenia. This medieval city combines residential structures, religious and military characteristics of a medieval town built over the centuries by the Christian and Muslim dynasties. The city reached its peak in the tenth and eleventh centuries AD when it became the capital of medieval Armenian kingdom of Bagratuni and derives its wealth of mastering the trade of one of the branches of the Silk Road. Later, under the Byzantine, Seljuk and Georgian sovereignty, it remains important hub status for trade caravans. The Mongol invasion and a devastating earthquake in 1319 marked the beginning of the decline of the city. Ani offers a wide panorama of the medieval architectural development through the presence of almost all architectural types that have emerged in the region between the seventh and thirteenth century AD

All caves Gorham (United Kingdom) – The steep limestone cliffs, located in the eastern part of the rock of Gibraltar, contain four caves with archaeological and paleontological sites attest to the presence Neanderthal, for a period of more than 125 000 years. This exceptional testimony to the cultural traditions of Neanderthals is reflected in particular by traces of hunting birds and marine animals for food and the use of ornamental feathers, and the presence of rock engravings abstract. Scientific research conducted at the site have already made significant contributions to debates on the Neanderthal and human evolution.

The 40th session of the World Heritage Committee will continue until July 20 under the chairmanship of Lale Ülker, Ambassador, Director General of Cultural Affairs and promotion abroad to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

with AFP

Cynicism and incompetence? entrusting Turkey to head UNESCO World Heritage by Ara Toranian

July 19, 2015 By administrator

Cynicism and incompetence? The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has entrusted its presidency in early July to Turkey. A decision that is almost unnoticed, yet … How indeed not surprising that this venerable institution that has particular duties to include or remove sites on the World Heritage List and check their good conservation, could appoint its management genocidal and denialist state has continued to carry out the annihilation of the cultural heritage of the people killed by him? There are countless churches destroyed, turned into stables or mosques. For one of them restored in extremis to Akhtamar (on Lake Van) – because of international pressure – in Diyarbakir or another – through the Armenian capital and courage of a Kurdish mayor – how many monuments and Goods were they robbed, looted, demolished or distorted in order to erase all traces of the presence of Armenians in their historic territories? [1]

Besides the denial, the company of “cultural cleansing” of Asia Minor is the political continuation of the genocide of 1915. So can we being stunned by the decision of UNESCO, which comes in addition to the year its centenary.

Armenian dance Kochari may replenish UNESCO list in late 2015

July 12, 2015 By administrator

Armenia submitted a request to include traditional dance Kochari in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage, Secretary-General of the Armenian National Commission for UNESCO Vahram Kazhoyan said.

“The discussion and the probable affirmation are scheduled for UNESCO’s November 30- December 2 session,” Kazhoyan told reporters Saturday, July 11.

4 Armenian cultural values, including Duduk and its music, Art of khachkar: symbolism and craftsmanship of khachkar, Daredevils of Sassoun epic poem and Lavash, the preparation, meaning and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in Armenia have been put on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Paris Triumph of Armenia in concert “Youth for Peace” at UNESCO

June 4, 2015 By administrator

Photo Krikor Djirdjirian

Armenia has made an extraordinary demonstration of his musical talents with the concert organized by the Permanent Delegation to UNESCO on June 3 in Paris.

Young National Orchestra of Armenia led by Sergey Smbatyan, conquered an audience that does not hide his pleasure in cheering up, repeatedly, the benefits of these exceptional talents. Since the great cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan to the magnificent singers Inga and Anush Arshakyans, through the ethno-jazz jazz Katuner Together, the show excited about his professionalism and filled a packed room.

The orchestra played in a remarkable way the works of Aram Khatchadourian, Komitas, and also accompanied with great mastery, the superb performances of Michael Voskanyan at târ, Gevorg Dabaghyan, the duduk, Narek Kazazyan at Kanun, as well as the accordionist Roland Romanelli. With this beautiful musical performance, probably one of the most successful in recent years on the Armenian stage, Armenia has given the extent of his artistic expertise and professionalism.

This concert, which was attended notably Viguen Sargsyan, representing the President of the Republic of Armenia, Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO – who introduced the evening with speeches – and Ambassador of Armenia Vigen Tchitetchian, s ‘ended as it should by a long standing ovation from an audience thrilled.

Turkey’s ambassador to France overturned a photo exhibition at UNESCO

March 17, 2015 By administrator

The information would go unnoticed if the Swiss press had not revealed. Indeed the exhibition dedicated to the photographic work of Jean mohr -1- (With war victims) to UNESCO, scheduled for March 30, was canceled indefinitely on pressure, among others, the Turkish Ambassador to France Hakki Akil. This is what reveals the online media Liberty. The cause for the ambassador, photos taken in Cyprus in 1974, the only “wrong” are to show