Zhanna Andreasian and Irakli Garibashvili Meet

During her official visit to Georgia, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of Armenia, Zhanna Andreasian, was received by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili. The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of Armenia to Georgia, Ashot Simbayan, and the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli.

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports (MoESCS) reports that Irakli Garibashvili emphasized the importance of the multifaceted relationship and effective cooperation between Armenia and Georgia while welcoming the minister. It was noted that Armenia and Georgia are connected by a centuries-old history and friendly relations.

The Prime Minister of Georgia expressed confidence that cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, sports, and youth will contribute to strengthening and developing the friendly ties between Armenia and Georgia. Minister Zhanna Andreasian expressed gratitude for the warm reception, highlighting the importance of close cooperation between Armenia and Georgia.

In this context, the minister presented the MoESCS's readiness to expand cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, sports, and youth policy. Zhanna Andreasian asserted that the implementation of joint programs would further strengthen the friendly ties between the two nations.

The minister thanked for supporting public schools in Georgia that teach Armenian language, emphasizing effective collaboration in the fields of education and science. Zhanna Andreasian highlighted the significance of school and inter-university collaboration between Armenia and Georgia, citing the memorandum of cooperation signed between Yerevan’s Vardges Petrosyan School No. 51 and Tbilisi’s Public School No. 104, as well as the memorandum of understanding between Yerevan State University and Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.

She stated that efforts are underway to expand the scope of cooperation to include other educational institutions and educational structures in Armenia and Georgia.

Zhanna Andreasian also addressed the possibility of implementing exchange programs aimed at introducing Georgian as a third foreign language in Armenian schools and underscored the importance of a scholarship program conducted within the framework of intergovernmental agreements, which provides Armenian citizens with opportunities for higher education in Georgian universities and vice versa.

In the cultural sector, the minister emphasized the activities of the Petros Adamian State Armenian Drama Theatre in Tbilisi and thanked the Georgian government for its constant support. She announced the Armenian side's readiness to organize reciprocal culture days in 2023-2024.

Zhanna Andreasian also stated that to coordinate these efforts, the Armenian side has developed a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of Armenia and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth Affairs of Georgia regarding the implementation of reciprocal culture days in Armenia and Georgia, which is currently undergoing internal coordination and will soon be submitted to the Georgian side for agreement.

Issues related to cooperation in the sports sector were also discussed. The Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports informed the Georgian Prime Minister about upcoming international sporting events in Armenia, including the European Weightlifting Championships and the World Sambo Championships.

The minister also addressed the importance of implementing joint programs in the field of youth policy, emphasizing the organization of an Armenian-Georgian youth forum aimed at developing dialogue among young people. During the meeting, other matters of mutual interest were also discussed.