Armenia’s acting Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Vahram Dumanyan today received the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross led by Thierry Ribo.

Dumanyan touched upon the issue of Armenian prisoners of war being kept in Azerbaijan following the second war in Nagorno-Karabakh and said he anticipates the ICRC’s support for the return of the Armenian POWs. He added that Armenia relies on the active interference of the ICRC, which is the frontrunner in the fight for their return.

In her turn, Ribo emphasized that the meeting serves as an occasion to present the ICRC’s activities in Armenia and discuss the possible cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science Culture and Sport. Touching upon the issue of the POWs, Ribo assured that the ICRC’s representatives are monitoring the conditions for imprisonment of the prisoners of war. According to her, the ICRC is carrying out several programs in the Tavush, Gegharkunik and Syunik Provinces of Armenia in order to mitigate the direct impact of the hostilities on the residents of borderline communities.

In this context, Ribo stressed that the ICRC’s Office in Armenia has launched the pilot project to help those who help and is providing training courses for 12 psychologists of children’s and psychological support centers in Armenia’s provinces with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.

The head of the Delegation voiced hope that the project will be long-term and ongoing so that the teachers having undergone training share their skills and capabilities with other members of the community.

Dumanyan responded to the proposals of the colleagues and stated that the ministry is willing to support the implementation of the humanitarian mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross with its full potential.