The session of the working group on Culture of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) was held online under Armenia’s chairmanship. The meeting was chaired by Astghik Marabyan, Head of the Department for Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia.
The agenda covered the implementation of the BSEC economic agenda; recent developments in the cultural sectors of member states and cultural cooperation; regional cooperation initiatives for the preservation of cultural heritage; and issues related to the inventory and transmission of intangible cultural heritage in the BSEC region.
The session aimed to promote cultural cooperation among BSEC member states, strengthen professional dialogue, and identify opportunities for joint regional initiatives in the field of cultural heritage, particularly its safeguarding and transmission, with a focus on intangible cultural heritage.
Participants also discussed opportunities to expand cooperation with regional and international organizations and partners in the field of culture.
The session opened with welcoming remarks by BSEC Deputy Secretary General Dimitrios Rallis, Executive Manager Sandra Vujinović, and Astghik Marabyan, Head of the Department for Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia.
Naira Kilichyan, Chief Specialist at the Department for Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, delivered a presentation on safeguarding Armenia’s intangible cultural heritage and the cultural policies implemented in this area.
It should be noted that Armenia holds the chairmanship of the BSEC framework for cooperation in culture for 2025–2027. During its chairmanship, particular emphasis is being placed on strengthening professional dialogue among member states on cultural heritage preservation and identifying new avenues for cooperation.
In this context, an international meeting of experts on intangible cultural heritage from BSEC member states was also held in 2025 to establish a platform for dialogue and cooperation and to explore opportunities for implementing joint projects.