DISCUSSIONS IN YEREVAN DEDICATED TO THE INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY
armradio.am
25.02.2010 15:32
Eleven national minorities, government and legislature representatives
gathered today at a round table discussion to talk about issues of
equal rights, equal opportunities for national minorities in Armenia.
The event was supported by the UN Department of Public Information
and was conducted on the occasion of International Mother Language Day.
Representatives from the office of Armenian President, from the
Government Department of National Minorities and Religious Affairs,
Ministries of Culture, Education, Science, and Diaspora, from the
National Assembly Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture,
Youth and Sport, Committee on National Minorities of the Public Council
and National Inspectorate of Language also discussed with the national
minorities the situation with promotion and preservation of national
minorities languages in Armenia, stressing the human rights aspect
of the issue as well.
Director-General of UNESCO Ms. Irina Bokova in her message for
International Mother Language Day said: "Languages are the best
vehicles of mutual understanding and tolerance. Respect for all
languages is a key factor for ensuring peaceful coexistence, without
exclusion, of societies and all of their members."
UN Department of Public Information Representative Maria Dotsenko
stated: "Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and
developing our heritage. Promotion and protection of mother tongues
serves not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual
education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and
cultural traditions and to inspire solidarity based on understanding,
tolerance and dialogue."
"The situation in Armenia is unique in the sense of celebrating
this UN Observance. Since 2006 International Mother Language Day
has been announced as a National Holiday. Moreover, 2010 has been
announced a Year of Mother Language. However, we are going to continue
supporting the development and promotion of national minorities and
their languages in Armenia," said Vardan Astsatryan, head of the
Government Department of National Minorities and Religious Affairs.
Representatives of national minorities thanked the UN Office that
they were given this opportunity to talk about their issues. They
voiced hope to continue cooperation with the UN agencies working in
the country.
International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General
Conference of UNESCO in November 1999. The eleventh International
Mother Language Day, which is designated on 21 February 2010, is
being celebrated in the framework of the International Year for the
Rapprochement of Cultures.