Armenia believes that the Ancient Civilizations Forum stands as a unique platform for cultural dialogue and cooperation on strengthening mutual understanding and tolerance, Armenian Foreign Minister Araartt Mirzoyan said at the Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of Ancient Civilizations in Yerevan.
“Throughout history, civilizations have served as essential sources of human creativity, knowledge and ethical principles – repositories of cultural memory that continue to shape our collective identity. By placing cultural diversity at the heart of dialogue, we not only acknowledge the profound influence of ancient civilizations in forging today’s global cultural landscape, but also discover how their legacies can guide us toward peace, respect and mutual understanding and in the same time embrace other cultures and diversity,” the Foreign Minister said.
“We gather at a time when the multilateral system and international law face unprecedented challenges. The world is confronted with evolving security threats, the resurgence of conflicts marked by immense human suffering, identity-based hatred, and drastic growth of the deliberate destruction or misappropriation of cultural heritage. Such acts, often driven by the weaponization of history and false narratives, serve as tools to justify territorial claims and exacerbate divisions, undermining the very foundations of international peace and security. Unfortunately, Armenia is among countries that continuously faces such challenges,” FM Mirzoyan said.
“To this end, Armenia strongly supports strengthening multilateral institutions, specialized agencies and legal instruments to more effectively protect cultural heritage and advance culture of peace, understanding and mutual respect,” he noted.
The Foreign Minister emphasized that Armenia is committed to international cooperation within the framework of the Ancient Civilizations Forum and supports strengthening the capacities of the Forum to enable its ambitious, practical actions in response to the evolving and new challenges.
“In line with our policy of cultural heritage protection, Armenia places special emphasis on the central role of UNESCO. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, a cornerstone in our collective efforts. As an active member of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, Armenia also tries to contribute to global efforts in this field. Recently, we supported Lebanon’s request for urgent enhanced protection for 34 cultural sites, promptly taking action to counter the threats posed by recent hostilities. We have also shared our expertise in projects like UNESCO’s “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative, demonstrating our commitment to international cooperation and collective heritage preservation,” Minister Mirzoyan said.
“Armenia is proud to be a part of this family of ancient civilizations. This privilege carries with it a great responsibility: to preserve humanity’s collective heritage and to protect the values and traditions that form the civilized foundations of our world. We will continue to work with the Member States of the Forum towards a more peaceful, just and harmonious future,” he concluded.
