By Adonia Agayan
YEREVAN, January 25 — Armenian and Japanese Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs had a meeting in Tokyo. The two parties highlighted the importance of taking Armenian-Japanese cooperation established in various spheres to the next level, to continue the bilateral political dialog and to expand the legal field.
In the name of the Armenian Government Armenian Deputy Minister Sergey Manasaryan thanked his Japanese counterpart for the continuing support and assistance Japan has been providing to the Republic of Armenia ever since it became an independent state. In his turn, Vice-Minister for Japanese Foreign Affairs Dr. Kazuyuki Hamada expressed his gratitude to the Republic of Armenia for the support they offered to Japan after the disastrous earthquake, which occurred in 2011.
Other than that, Armenian-Japanese political consultations were held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Issues concerning political, economic and humanitarian relations between the two countries were put on the agenda of the meeting.
Yerevan Report
By Adonia Agayan
YEREVAN, November 9 — Within the framework of a grant program implemented by the Government of Japan in the sphere of culture, Japan provided equipment to the National Gallery of the Republic of Armenia for the restoration of painting samples and xylography.
The equipment was made available due to the efforts made by Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia.
“I know that the National Gallery is the best in the entire territory of the Republic of Armenia. Masterpieces of such famous painters as Rembrandt and Chagall as well as a collection of Japanese Xylography School Ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock prints/woodcuts) are kept there,” said Tikahito Harada, the Japanese Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia.
Previously the Japanese Government has greatly supported various cultural centers of the Republic of Armenia. “Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Spendiarian Armenian Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater and Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory are among those cultural centers,” Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosyan said.
She noted that the new equipment will help perform large-scale painting restoration and xylography not only in the National Gallery, but also in other museums and galleries of the Republic of Armenia.
Yerevan Report
By Adonia Agayan
YEREVAN, November 7 — “The activation of versatile relations with Japan is highly important for the Republic of Armenia,” said Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan accepting the copy of credentials from the newly appointed Japan’s Ambassador to Armenia Tikahito Harada.
As the press office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports, Edward Nalbandyan expressed hope that the new ambassador will significantly contribute to the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries.
“The opening of Armenia’s embassy in Tokyo in 2010 proves our willingness to develop all round cooperation,” he said.
The Foreign Minister also thanked the Ambassador for Japan’s support to the development of Armenia’s economy ever since it was declared an independent country. Upon the Ambassador’s request, Nalbandyan introduced the latest developments registered in the negotiation process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation.
In his turn, Ambassador Harada assured that he will spare no effort to contribute to the development of bilateral relations.
In the name of Japan’s government, the Ambassador acknowledged for the condolences and the assistance the Republic of Armenia provided during the earthquake that occurred in Japan on March 11.
A range of international and regional issues were also discussed.
Yerevan Report
By Alexander Tagvoryan
YEREVAN, September 09–The Republic of Armenia is going to establish embassies in Netherlands and Japan, in accordance with the edict project of the Armenian President Serge Sarkisian.
The Prime-Minister Tigran Sarkisian said that the decision to open an embassy in Japan was made long ago, but the realization of this idea was postponed because of the global economic crisis. Now, according to him, the government is ready to allocate funds to open the embassy.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan said that it’s very important to establish an embassy in the Netherlands not only because it will help to improve the relations between the two countries, but also because of the fact that “the Netherlands is considered to be the legal capital of Europe, where numerous European judicial authorities are located.”
In 2010-2011, Armenia plans to establish embassies in Japan, Quiet, Iraq, Valencia, Finland, Scandinavia and Latvia.
In 2009, the state budget was ready to provide $13 million for the establishment of the Armenian embassies abroad. Only $11.8 million of them were spent.
Yerevan Report
Photo credit – armenica.org