YEREVAN. – The international community should strongly condemn intolerance toward the treasures, and the damaging and destroying of cultural or religious heritage belonging to the civilization of others.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who is also Chairman of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) National Commission of Armenia, stated the aforementioned.

Nalbandian noted this in his opening remarks at the UNESCO International Conference “Cultural Policy and Policy for Culture,” which the Armenian capital city of Yerevan is hosting.

The conference intends to elaborate relevant recommendations for the updating cultural policies, taking into account the UNESCO standard-setting instruments and an integrated approach to cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and sustainable development, while reinforcing institutional, including legislative capacities and those of policy-makers and culture professionals with a view to developing the arts education and integrating culture into all other development policies.