AMBASSADOR: ITALY IS INTERESTED IN RESTORING ARMENIAN MONUMENTS

Regnum, Russia
Aug. 30, 2006

>From August 30 to September 16, an International Conference Archaeology
and Monuments’ Restoration is being held in Armenia with the help of
the Italian government.

As a REGNUM correspondent reports, Italian Ambassador Marco Clemente
has said in his opening address that the Italian government attaches
much significance to the Armenian-Italian cooperation. "Italy is
interested in restoring and preserving Armenian monuments, first,
because Armenia is rich with architectural hits, second, the vast
experience of Italian specialists will help Armenian colleagues in
preserving architectural monuments. The Italian government is sure
that architecture is one of priority spheres of the Armenia-Italian
cooperation," the ambassador announced adding that Armenia’s oil is
human resources – professionals, experts in culture.

In his turn, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs
Gagik Gyurjyan noted that for Armenian colleagues, experience of Italy
in methods of restoring wall painting is very important. "Italy is
rich in monumental heritage, and its specialists in architecture have
no match," he said.

The Archaeology and Monuments’ Restoration panel is organized by
Armenia’s Ministry for Culture and Youth Affairs, Italian Embassy
to Armenia, the Center for Studying and Ratifying the Armenian
Culture, historical department of Yerevan State University. Leading
archaeologists, restores, architects, designers, experts in restoring
wall paintings participate in it. The Italian government granted
30,000 euro to hold the event.