ArmInfo. This year,
applications for participation in the Armenian-Iranian culinary and
cultural festival were received from 15 provinces of Iran. This was
stated by the cultural attache of the Iranian Embassy in Armenia
Mohammad Asadi Movahedi during a press conference on August 6.
However, given the restrictions in the format of the festival, only
culinary experts and artisans from 5 provinces will participate from
the Iranian side: Khuzestan, Esfahan Golestan, Kashan, Hamadan, as
well as from Tehran.
According to him, Iran will be represented within the festival by
three components: culture (national music, sports, exhibitions),
crafts and cuisine. If in the first year of the festival (2022) 6
pavilions of the Iranian side were installed on the territory of the
festival, then last year their number increased to 22. This year Iran
will be represented by 30 pavilions.
"This is a large and important cultural event that will have an
impact on strengthening Armenian-Iranian cultural ties. Our nations
have much in common, and organizing such events will help us get to
know each other better," said Mohammad Asadi Movahedi.
Chairman of the NGO "Development and Preservation of Armenian
Culinary Traditions" Sedrak Mamoulian spoke during a press conference
about the traditional "Navasard" competition between chefs from
Armenia and Iran, who will compete in three nominations: "Best
Taste", "Best View" and "Best Presentation". The plans, as he further
said, include making this competition international, inviting
representatives of a number of other countries as participants and
jury members.
Considering the experience of previous years, it is expected that at
least 5 thousand tourists will visit the festival, most of whom are
foreign citizens.
The festival will be held traditionally on August 10 in Sisian, from
16:00 to 22:30 in Sisak Nahapet Square. The event is held with the
aim of forming a single regional tourism product between Armenia and
Iran, strengthening cooperation and friendship between the two
countries, preserving the development and popularization of cultural
heritage, as well as forming the image of the Republic of Armenia and
the Syunik region as a stable, safe and attractive tourist
destination.
The next day, a scientific conference dedicated to Armenian-Iranian
cultural ties will be held at the Yerevan History Museum.
The festival is organized by the Tourism Federation of Armenia and
the public organization "Development and Preservation of Armenian
Culinary Traditions" with the assistance of the Tourism Committee, in
cooperation with the administration of the Syunik region of the
Republic of Armenia, the municipality of Sisian, the Cultural Center
of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of
Armenia and the Consulate General of Iran in Kapan. It should be
noted that according to the Tourism Committee, 69 thousand Iranian
tourists visited Armenia in January-June of this year, which is 7% of
the total number of international visitors who chose Armenia as a
tourist destination. In annual terms, this figure has increased by
19%.
