Exhibition in Athens
“Kostis Palamas” Building, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
(Inauguration date: 2nd October 2023. The exhibition will continue until 20 October 2023)
The exhibition is organized to showcase some Armenian values created over the millennia that have been officially included in UNESCO’s tangible and intangible heritage.
The displayed items were part of about 500 pictures personally taken by visiting Ambassador Vahe Gabrielyan, who has toured Armenian sites included in the UNESCO lists and published a two-volume book .
For the exhibition, 5 dozen pictures were selected from Gabrielyan’s collection to be displayed.
Tigran Mkrtchyan, Ambassador of Armenia in Athens, mentioned the importance of preserving the Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh and the need for international monitoring to prevent damage to these historical locations.
Dimitris Keridis, Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, said: “The great tragedy happening in Artsakh, under the indifferent gaze of the civilized world, with many refugees and victims, is a classic example of the destruction of a nation. And today, the Independence Day of modern Armenia should be celebrated under completely different conditions. And culture often helps us in these difficult times.
As the Minister of Migration and Asylum, I can say that Greece knows the problems of refugees very well. At the same time, the history and fate of our two countries have often been repeated at the hands of the same enemies, having the same memories, both in old times and today. The recent developments in Armenia have greatly impacted us and we must try to help the Armenian people in every possible way.”
There was a short concert performance to celebrate the 120th birth anniversary of Aram Khachatryan, whose musical heritage is included in UNESCO’s intangible heritage.
The exhibition and concert performance were part of the events to mark Armenia’s Independence Day and the 30th Anniversary of the mutual opening of diplomatic missions between Armenia and Greece, celebrated in a modest format due to the ongoing situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Key attendants:
– Tigran Mkrtchyan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in Athens.
– Dimitris Keridis, Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum
– Vahe Gabrielyan, visiting Ambassador and author of books and photo albums.
– Armine Grigoryan, Director of the House-Museum of Aram Khachatryan.
– Sona Barseghyan, pianist.
Report by Hrach Kalsahakian
Photos by the Embassy of Armenia in Athens and Kyriakos Maridakis of International Ambassador Club-Hellas.
