On September 11, the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the RA Ministry of Health and the Health Action Armenia-France organization launched the 5^th Euro-Caucasian Congress of Cardiology in Yerevan. The congress brought together more than 50 renowned foreign and Diaspora Armenian cardiologists from France, Monaco, Great Britain, Lebanon, Russia, Syria, Iran and Georgia, as well as nearly 200 experts from Armenia and Artsakh.

The purpose of the congress is to help enhance the field of cardiology, consolidate the potential of Armenian cardiologists from different parts of the world, contribute to the cooperation between cardiologists of the Republic of Armenia, the Armenian Diaspora and Artsakh, as well as help them raise the level of their professionalism, improve their professional qualities and exchange their experiences.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan gave welcoming remarks and particularly mentioned the following: “The Euro-Caucasian Congress of Cardiology has proved that it plays an important role, and it’s not by chance that more and more cardiologists of Armenia and Artsakh actively participate in this event every year, exchanging their thoughts and ideas with foreign and Diaspora Armenian cardiologists in an attempt to overcome the challenges in the field of cardiology with new and more effective approaches by sharing information and experiences.”

The minister expressed gratitude to the Health Action Armenia-France organization, which organizes the congress, and to the organization’s president Avedis Matikian, who has been making major investments for the implementation of several healthcare programs in Armenia since the years following the 1988 Spitak Earthquake.

The minister attached importance to the establishment of the French-Armenian Center for Cardiology in Goris, which plays a major role in supporting the field of cardiology and helping people stay healthy in Armenia, particularly in the Syunik Province.

“The RA Ministry of Diaspora has been organizing the Euro-Caucasian Congress of Cardiology with the Health Action Armenia-France and the RA Ministry of Health for the past four consecutive years, and it is a pleasure to see Armenia’s cardiologists actively participating in this major event. We are also especially grateful to the foreign cardiologists and cardiologists of Armenian descent, who share their ideas, knowledge and experiences and introduce their innovations in Armenia in an attempt to support the formation of a favorable environment in the field of cardiology in Armenia and to overcome the existing challenges. It’s also nice to see that a cardiologist from Armenia’s neighboring country of Georgia is also participating in the congress for the first time,” Minister Hranush Hakobyan mentioned.

The minister announced that, by the decree of the RA President, the Mkhitar Heratsi Medal has been granted to the Health Action Armenia-France organization and to President of Health Action Armenia-France Avedis Matikian and granted the medal to Avedis Matikian. The medal was granted on the occasion of Republic Day and for notable contributions to the strengthening of Armenia-Diaspora relations.

In his speech, RA Minister of Health Armen Muradyan mentioned that the discussions would provide the experts with the opportunity to share their ideas and knowledge, as well as their effective and innovative approaches for the field of cardiology. “I’m certain that by meeting in Armenia once every two years and engaging in discussions you will ensure progress in this field, which is considered a major issue in Armenia,” he added.

The first session was moderated by Russia’s top invasive cardio surgeon, President of the Russian Association for Invasive Cardio Surgery, President of the Armenian Medical Association adjunct to the Union of Armenians of Russia, academician Bagrat Alekyan and leader of the group of academics of the Euro-Caucasian Congress of Cardiology Paul Baragan.

Among the speakers were Antoin Lafon (Paris, France) (“Life-destroying stand”), Alice Ohanessian (Paris, France) (“Arrhythmia among women”), Davud Moyaid (Tehran, Iran) (Heart surgery, long-term results for patients having suffered from CMVC or OMVC in the past”), Bagrat Alekyan (Moscow, Russia) (“Opening of atria partition stand to treat extremely high idiopathic pulmonary pressure”), Osvald Khachadourian (Aleppo, Syria) (“Clinical state, report from Aleppo”), Mikayel Isayan (Kaliningrad, Russia), (Regression of overgrowth of left ventricle following replacement of aortal valve of small diameter among elderly patients”), Narbeh Melikian (London, UK) (“FFR as the latest effective mode applied in cardiology in 2015”), Alek Vahanian (Paris, France) (“What can one expect from hypodermic treatment of mitral valve disease?”), Yavad Zibaenezhad (Shiraz, Iran) (“Hypodermic cardiac intervention”), Armand Eker (Monte Carlo, Monaco) (“Recovery of left ventricle in ischemic arrhythmia”), Davud Moyaed (Tehran, Iran) (“Can external femoral-venous interventions really ensure a long-term result?”) and Dmitri Astapov (Novosibirsk, Russia) (“The bioLAB Mono tissue valve without placing a stand: Early results of replacement of aortal valve”).

The congress will continue at Erebuni Plaza Business Center starting from 09:30 on September 12.