The delegation led by RA Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan is currently on a working visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Taking into consideration the perspectives of development and expansion of cooperation between Armenia and the Netherlands in science and education, the visit is also important in that it will help focus more on the issues of instruction at Armenian Sunday schools in Dutch-Armenian communities.

Armen Ashotyan’s first meeting was with Minister of Education, Culture and Science of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Marietta (Yet) Busemaker. Ashotyan presented the latest developments of the Bologna Process in Armenia and provided information about Armenia’s efforts made in the context of assuming the Bologna Secretariat. Mrs. Y. Busemaker praised the Secretariat’s efforts. The sides discussed issues on the deepening of bilateral relations and professional matters of reciprocal interest. Minister Armen Ashotyan invited his European counterpart to Armenia to participate in the ministerial summit to be held in Yerevan in 2015. Armen Ashotyan also called Yet Busemaker’s attention to the educational issues concerning Armenians living in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, particularly instruction of the Armenian language.

The Armenian delegation also visited the University of Leyden, which is one of the world’s top 100 universities and was once known as a center for Armenian studies in the years between 1994 and 2009. The issue of reopening the Chair of Armenian Studies was discussed.

The Armenian delegates presented several proposals for the reopening of the Chair such as the implementation of joint academic programs devoted to Armenology with the participation of Armenia’s top universities. The Armenian delegation also visited the University’s library where there are more than 250 old Armenian-language books. It should be mentioned that among the books sent from the Matenadaran, the samples of Armenian books kept at this library were also showcased at the “Diaspora of Armenian Literature 1512-2012” exhibition dedicated to the 500^th anniversary of Armenian Printing.

The delegation led by Minister Armen Ashotyan also met with leaders of several Dutch-Armenian foundations and the principals and teachers of Armenian Sunday schools and discusses issues of concern.

RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Dzyunik Aghajanyan also participated in the meetings.

Netherlands Diary