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HASMIK POGHOSYAN: "CULTURE IS BECOMING A LEADER IN ALL RELATIONS"
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
April 17 2013
17 April 2013 - 7:26am
By Vestnik Kavkaza
In Moscow the conference of the Council of Europe Ministers of Culture
is ended. The Bolshoi Theater gathered 230 delegates from 50 countries;
22 countries were presented at the level of state secretaries and
ministers, including Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia. Hasmik
Poghosyan, the minister of culture of the Republic of Armenia, told
Vestnik Kavkaza about the most interesting projects in her sphere.
- Please tell us about the cultural events that will be held in
Armenia this year. What are the most important?
- First of all, "Yerevan - world literary capital" declared by UNESCO
is still going on in Armenia, and in April we plan to end this Year. As
for crucial events, this year we celebrate the anniversary of Aram
Khachaturian. I believe it will be a really great event not only for
us, but for the international community. Many countries pay tribute to
this great name. I think it will be a crucial event. A lot of projects
are expected within digitization of cultural heritage; and we will
have a series of international conferences, projects which will be
implemented in Armenia. There will be a lot of events. In Armenia,
cultural life is very active - many festivals, international formats,
interesting meetings. I would like to highlight a project called
"The Literary Ark." Many European writers come to us. They become
acquainted with our country and write about their vision of a new
modern Armenia. We translate it into Armenian and get a bilingual
book. Every year modern literature about contemporary Armenia is
created.
- What does contemporary Armenia look like?
- It is very interesting. It is absolutely different from the Armenia
of 20 years ago that had no independence. Independence led to a new
vision of the country, a new balance of forces within the country, a
new vision of the future and a new format of the modern situation. It
is a fairly democratic country; it is very open. Today I will speak
about it. We have absolute access to everything. Sometimes it causes
negative consequences, but in general we try to provide a balanced
policy on accessibility to the heritage which used to be inaccessible
for us for many years because of linguistic, geographic, and physical
barriers. Today the doors are open and the society should accept the
situation. The developments which are going on in Armenia are a format
for real independence of the country.
- What are the most interesting projects implemented together with
Russia?
- We have the warmest and the most intensive relations, starting
from exhibition exchanges... Of course Russia participates in all
our projects - in the bilateral format, within the CIS, through
cooperation in the Intergovernmental Fund of Humanitarian Cooperation,
at international platforms, for example, at the current conference.
Our traditional form of exchange with Russia is Armenian seasons in
Russia and Russian seasons in Armenia. This year we will focus on
the city of Gyumri at Russia's suggestion. It is the second city of
Armenia and has been declared the cultural capital of the CIS. At the
Russian side's suggestion, many Russian projects will be implemented
in Gyumri. Gyumri looks forward to Russia's arrival. It has a Russian
military unit, a Russian community, a church, a cultural center. There
is a real Russian presence.
- Do you agree with Mr. Medinsky that culture is gaining new functions
and encouraging harmonization of relations today?
- Of course. Today culture is becoming a leader in all relations. I am
very glad about culture, because I think international and bilateral
relations will benefit from promotion of culture.
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
April 17 2013
17 April 2013 - 7:26am
By Vestnik Kavkaza
In Moscow the conference of the Council of Europe Ministers of Culture
is ended. The Bolshoi Theater gathered 230 delegates from 50 countries;
22 countries were presented at the level of state secretaries and
ministers, including Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia. Hasmik
Poghosyan, the minister of culture of the Republic of Armenia, told
Vestnik Kavkaza about the most interesting projects in her sphere.
- Please tell us about the cultural events that will be held in
Armenia this year. What are the most important?
- First of all, "Yerevan - world literary capital" declared by UNESCO
is still going on in Armenia, and in April we plan to end this Year. As
for crucial events, this year we celebrate the anniversary of Aram
Khachaturian. I believe it will be a really great event not only for
us, but for the international community. Many countries pay tribute to
this great name. I think it will be a crucial event. A lot of projects
are expected within digitization of cultural heritage; and we will
have a series of international conferences, projects which will be
implemented in Armenia. There will be a lot of events. In Armenia,
cultural life is very active - many festivals, international formats,
interesting meetings. I would like to highlight a project called
"The Literary Ark." Many European writers come to us. They become
acquainted with our country and write about their vision of a new
modern Armenia. We translate it into Armenian and get a bilingual
book. Every year modern literature about contemporary Armenia is
created.
- What does contemporary Armenia look like?
- It is very interesting. It is absolutely different from the Armenia
of 20 years ago that had no independence. Independence led to a new
vision of the country, a new balance of forces within the country, a
new vision of the future and a new format of the modern situation. It
is a fairly democratic country; it is very open. Today I will speak
about it. We have absolute access to everything. Sometimes it causes
negative consequences, but in general we try to provide a balanced
policy on accessibility to the heritage which used to be inaccessible
for us for many years because of linguistic, geographic, and physical
barriers. Today the doors are open and the society should accept the
situation. The developments which are going on in Armenia are a format
for real independence of the country.
- What are the most interesting projects implemented together with
Russia?
- We have the warmest and the most intensive relations, starting
from exhibition exchanges... Of course Russia participates in all
our projects - in the bilateral format, within the CIS, through
cooperation in the Intergovernmental Fund of Humanitarian Cooperation,
at international platforms, for example, at the current conference.
Our traditional form of exchange with Russia is Armenian seasons in
Russia and Russian seasons in Armenia. This year we will focus on
the city of Gyumri at Russia's suggestion. It is the second city of
Armenia and has been declared the cultural capital of the CIS. At the
Russian side's suggestion, many Russian projects will be implemented
in Gyumri. Gyumri looks forward to Russia's arrival. It has a Russian
military unit, a Russian community, a church, a cultural center. There
is a real Russian presence.
- Do you agree with Mr. Medinsky that culture is gaining new functions
and encouraging harmonization of relations today?
- Of course. Today culture is becoming a leader in all relations. I am
very glad about culture, because I think international and bilateral
relations will benefit from promotion of culture.