UN celebrates 20th anniversary of presence in Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - The United Nations in Armenia together with its strategic partners - government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, international organizations, private sector, civil society, educational institutions and media, celebrates today, September 28 the 20th anniversary of the UN presence in the country.

The main event of the celebrations is an official reception at the “Lovers’ Park” in Yerevan. During the latter a photo album illustrating the twenty-year achievements of UN Armenia Office was presented to the public.

Dafina Gercheva, UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia said: “I cannot emphasize enough the significance the UN places upon its partnerships with the various actors in Armenian society. The strategic cooperation with the Government, private sector, academia, civil society and media has been instrumental for demonstrating our role as an impartial facilitator and promoter of Armenia’s transition towards functional democracy and market economy.”

This event inaugurates the UN Month in Armenia. As a part of the celebration of this milestone, the UN together with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport and Communications and HayPost will organize the cancellation ceremony of a specially designed post stamp, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Armenian membership in the UN and 20th anniversary of the UN presence in Armenia, which will take place on UN Day – 24 October.

On the UN Day Armenian journalists will receive a UN Journalism Award for the most professional coverage of the issues related to the UN work in Armenia. The UN expert jury will select the winners according to their professionalism, creativity, and in-depth knowledge of the UN work in Armenia.

On the same day a historical photo exhibition will be opened at the UN House. It will illustrate the UN work and achievements in support of the country’s efforts towards sustainable development and will raise public awareness on the UN values. It will travel around the country, in order to reach out to everyone. In addition to the photo exhibition debates on the UN role and its achievements will be organized.

During the month, the UN Resident Coordinator and Heads of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes will also discuss with the students of Armenian universities the role of the UN in promoting human rights, peace and securing and accelerating human development. UN literature will be distributed to the students of different Yerevan Universities by the Biblio-Bus of the National Library of Armenia, which hosts one of the two UN Depository Libraries.

On October 24, 1945, sixty-seven years ago, the founding Charter of the UN entered into force. The UN Office in Armenia was opened in December 1992, after Armenia became a member of the United Nations in March 1992, UN Armenia Office press service reported.