June 2018

Disaster Risk Reduction – We participate in the UN platform

For the first time in Armenia, a regional meeting of the Second Central Asia and South Caucasus Sub-regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction was held in Yerevan. The main aim of the platform was to facilitate dialogue, forge transboundary partnerships, promote integration of disaster risk management in all sectors towards effective implementation, and building resilience. 

As a result of the meeting, the participants of the platform elaborated the “Yerevan Declaration,” reaffirming determination to implement Sendai Framework for DRR and coherence with 2030 Development Agenda. The Declaration is to be presented to the European Forum for the Disaster Risk Reduction, planned to take place in Rome, Italy on 21-23 Nov 2018, and to the Global platform in Geneva, Switzerland, on 13-17 May 2019.

"Local Self-Governance" Program Phase 2 Planning

The Swiss Cooperation Office South Caucasus was happy to announce that Switzerland plans to continue supporting the Armenian government in the process of the Territorial Administrative Reform and Decentralization of power, within the framework of our Cooperation Strategy 2017-2020!

During the two day coordination workshop the partner organizations, once again, gathered around the table to review the program progress since the last meeting in October, as well as discuss the outlook until the end of 2018.

Nerka Design Project

This June, we were very excited about the Embassy’s partnership with Armenian designers and talented curator Emma Harutyunyan for the exhibition Nerka design project HAPPENING. Armenian designers have a lot to show to the public, and the site of the exhibition in the former Ministry of Foreign affairs building, right on the Hraparak, was truly unique.

Caucasus International Conference 2018

To critically sum up the year 2017 in the region, your Embassy has teamed up with the Caucasus Institute and the Swiss South Caucasus Foundation, organizing the annual Caucasus International Conference. Focusing on various aspects of the Caucasian reality, the discussions revolved around the political trends in the South and North Caucasus in 2017, regional security and international policies.

Sheep Shearing Festival 2018

Mountain festivals have much in common between Switzerland and Armenia. Ambassador Lukas Gasser felt much at home at the Sheep Shearing Festival near Tatev, although he would have felt more at ease milking a cow than shearing a sheep. But the try was worth it (we hope the animal feels the same). Wonderful ambiance at the Syunik animal market, the site of the festival and the result of fifteen years of Swiss development cooperation in Armenia’s South.

May 2018

Our first meeting with the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

Congratulating the Prime Minister for a peaceful transition and respect of the Constitution, we had our first meeting with Nikol Pashinyan on May 22nd. The talks focused on the next elections, further intensifying our already dynamic economic relations, as well as regional connectivity challenges.

There is so much more to do! It’s a real privilege to be working with Armenia.

Abrazo - Tango des Überlebens

Memorable event of theatre and music, thanks to Swiss dancer, singer and actress Alexandra Prusa Straub. She brought ABRAZO, the incredible story of a Swiss émigrée to Argentina, to the Yerevan stage at Nca. Small Theatre on May 14. An unforgettable evening of songs, captivating tales, tango and much passion, with a great performance from the Argentine and Italian musicians. Thanks to Presence Switzerland and Goethe-Zentrum Eriwan für the valuable support!

TRAVERTINE FUTURE

Yerevan has the stuff to become one of the global cool cities of the world, a must-visit place for hipsters, epicureans and aficionados of all ways of life. This was more or less what young Swiss photographer Sebastian Stadler told your Embassy two years ago. Now, he is again in Yerevan, contributing his own share in making this happen. Witness the masterpieces of Patrick Cipriani, Till Martin and Sebastian Stadler at Hay Art Gallery in Yerevan. Our exhibition TRAVERTINE FUTURE has met with considerable success and is open until May 5, after which it will move on to Switzerland.

The Leather Show

What an opening it has been! On May 12, the long-awaited exhibition “The Leather Show” by Narek Barseghyan kicked off in Yerevan. Being a combination of an exhibition and a fashion workshop, this Swiss supported multi-part project is truly a cultural highlight.

April 2018

Ambassador Gasser met with RA President Armen Sarkissian

On April 27, Ambassador Lukas Gasser met with RA President Armen Sarkissian. The discussions focused on Armenia’s present window of opportunity to move towards useful and stable changes. Switzerland is rooting for its friend Armenia. Our country is ready to further contribute our share for a better future.

ARé Festival

Amid political trouble, an island of sublime art and good wine: The location was new, the Chardonnay and Cabernet franc from Geneva excellent, the displayed art stimulating and the audience a selection of fine connoisseurs. Thanks to ARé performing arts festival and her organizer Mariné Karoyan, we discovered a new architectural pearl in the heart of Yerevan: Vordan Karmir carpet museum. The Swiss artists Silvia Bächli and Eric Hattan were brought by your Embassy and Pro Helvetia, the Arts Council of Switzerland. 

The artists involved in “SELFIE” edition of “ARé -2018” are and /are not making artworks inspired by selfie culture. They are toying with the idea, pointing out some necessities, digging deep. They touch on difficult subjects without shying away from their complexity. Uncomfortable topics emerge in their works, encouraging viewers to ask questions rather than merely providing them with answers.

Armenuhi Magarditchian presents “Archaeological Guide on Garni”

Book at the right time! Your Embassy was proud to be associated with the presentation on April 13 of the book “Archaeological Guide on Garni” by Swiss archaeologist and philologist Armenuhi Magarditchian. Armenuhi’s guide of the Garni temple is a most readable introduction to this rare instance of a pagan temple being turned into a Christian baptistery in Armenia. Armenuhi Magarditchian, a former intern of your Embassy, is presently writing her PhD at Geneva University. Her newest book was financed by the Embassy and Swiss Humanitarian Foundation KASA.

Daniel Dickenmann's “Metropole Zentralschweiz”

During his recent trip to Armenia, Swiss architect and author Daniel Dickenmann made a call at one of our favourite places in town, the Mirzoyan Library. Enchanted by the stimulating spirit of this institution, he made a donation of his book “Metropole Zentralschweiz” (Park Books, 2012). His discussion of the topic touched upon architecture and landscape in central Switzerland. Scenery and architecture - one of the world’s most stunning landscapes creates a metropolitan space.