On March 9, the Valiceliana Library in Rome, Albatros Cultural Association and Columbia Travel Agency held an event entitled “Armenian Culture Day” at Valiceliana Library in Rome. The event was sponsored by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Italy and featured a conference and a concert, reported the press service of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Hayern Aysor.

RA Ambassador to Italy Victoria Baghdasaryan, Deputy Minister of Culture of Italy Antimo Cesaro and Director of Valiceliana Library and the conference’s moderator Paola Paesano gave their welcoming speeches.

Ambassador Baghdasaryan briefly presented the history and rich cultural heritage of the Armenian people, the achievements that Armenia has made throughout the years of independence, the centuries-old presence of Armenians in Italy and the contributions that they have made to the development of economy and culture in Italy.

Talking about the relations between Italy and Armenia, the Ambassador emphasized that March 17^th will mark the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Italy and Armenia and stated that the relations and cooperation between the two nations span millennia. The Ambassador also informed that the Armenian-Italian Inter-Governmental Commission will hold its first session in Rome on 9 May.

In his turn, Italy’s Deputy Minister of Culture highly appreciated the level of cultural cooperation between the two countries. He also touched upon the upcoming session of the Armenian-Italian Inter-Governmental Commission and the plan to create a regional center for the restoration of cultural heritage in Armenia with the support of the Government of Italy, viewing the session and the creation of the center as key contributing factors for the development of cooperation between the two countries. Antimo Cesaro also talked about the role and importance of culture in regard to the preservation of the cultural values created by the Armenians and the historical memory of the nations.

The conference featured speeches by sociologist of the Sapienza University of Rome Maria Immacolata Macioti, Professor of the Chair of Armenian Studies at the University of Bologna Anna Sirinyan, journalist Claudia Sugliano, writer and literary critic Magda Vigilante, Professor of Santa Cecilia National Conservatory Carla Conti, Director of Albatros Cultural Association Agostino Bagnato and journalist Sonya Orfalyan.

In their speeches, the speakers talked about the various directions of the rich culture of the Armenian people, including literature, music, architecture, manuscript books, Armenian alphabet and language and Armenian historic and cultural monuments. They also touched upon the features of Armenian cuisine, contemporary Armenian culture and the activities carried out by Armenian poet Hrant Nazaryan, who took shelter in Italy in the early 20^th century.

The report on the creation and activities of the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran) and the manuscripts by Matenadaran’s scientific worker Ara Khzmalyan was read during the conference.

The event also featured the screening of the documentary film “Armenia Within Us” by Director of Albatros Cultural Association Agostino Bagnato. The film presents the rich historical and cultural heritage of Armenia, as well as the landscapes and sites worth seeing in the country.

The screening was followed by performances of the works of Armenian classical and folk musicians and readings of the poems of Hrant Nazaryan.

The event devoted to Armenia culture ended with an exhibit of the works by Armenian painters.