Prospectives for deepening cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere are discussed

On 20 February 2023 a meeting between the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Armenia Muhammetgeldi Ayazov and the newly appointed Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia Zhanna Andreasyan was held.

During the meeting it was noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere was built at its highest level and in this context, the prospects for deepening these relations between the two friendly countries were marked.

Emphasizing the already existing Agreements between such educational institutions as Turkmen State University and Yerevan State University and Agricultural universities of friendly states, it was noted that the draft agreements between Economic universities and Conservatories of the two countries are also being worked out, and the Program of Cooperation between the Governments of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Armenia in the field of culture and art is underway.

Ambassador Ayazov noted that he attaches great importance to the cooperation with the Ministry and expressed gratitude for the assistance to the initiatives of the Turkmen side. Referring to the Days of Culture of Armenia held in Turkmenistan in 2019 including a number of exhibitions, concerts, master classes and exchanges of experience, Ambassador noted that one of the main topics for initiating today's meeting was the discussion of holding the Days of Culture Turkmenistan in Armenia this year and this initiative received the full support of the Armenian side.

During the meeting, the Ambassador also proposed to hold a conference and a concert dedicated to the great Turkmen poet and philosopher Magtymguly Fragi within the framework of Days of Culture Turkmenistan in Armenia and also noted that Magtymguly's 300th anniversary will be solemnly celebrated in 2024.

Throughout the meeting, the readiness was expressed to continue cooperation also in the field of science through the implementation of joint research programs with the scientific partner structures of the two countries. In this context, Ambassador Ayazov emphasized the active cooperation between the Institutes of Seismology of Turkmenistan and Armenia, also noted that Armenian scientists regularly take part in the annual conferences and round tables dedicated to the Day of Science of Turkmenistan.  According to the Ambassador such an active cooperation is  encouraging the implementation of new programs and initiatives in the field of science.

Paying attention to the cooperation in the field of sports, it was noted that Turkmen athletes, namely weightlifters and swimmers, had trainings in sport complexes in Armenia before the Olympics in Tokyo. It was mentioned that online chess master classes had been held and every year the Embassy of Turkmenistan holds a bike ride dedicated to the World  Bicycle Day.

The minister, in turn, invited the athletes of the Turkmenistan national team to conduct their regular trainings in the sport complexes of Armenia, noting that today the country is pursuing a policy of holding international competitions and tournaments in Armenia.

At the end of the meeting Ambassador Ayazov handed over to the Minister the book of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov "The Spiritual World of Turkmens" in Armenian