On October 28-29, an international conference titled “Restoration of the Protection of Cultural Heritage Using New and Developing Technologies” was held in Yerevan, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the National UNESCO Commission of Armenia, and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia, in collaboration with UNESCO. The event marked two significant milestones: the 70th anniversary of the 1954 UNESCO Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, and the 25th anniversary of the 1999 Second Protocol.
The conference opened at the Matenadaran Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, with welcoming remarks by Vahan Kostanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia; Alfred Kocharyan, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport; and Krista Pikkat, Director of UNESCO’s Culture and Emergencies Entity and Secretary of the Hague Convention.
Blue Shield Armenia was honored to participate in this key event, aligned with the 70th anniversary of the Hague Convention, which also forms the mandate under which Blue Shield operates. Seda Grigoryan, Co-founder and Chair of Blue Shield Armenia, moderated a panel on “New and Emerging Technologies in the Service of Cultural Heritage Mapping and Protection.”
The panel featured prominent experts, including Bastien Varoutsikos (ALIPH), Shaobo Liu (HIST, UNESCO), Marie Lou Papazian (TUMO), Isber Sabrine (Heritage for Peace), and Khachik Harutyunyan (Scientific Research Center of the Historical and Cultural Heritage, Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport). Panelists shared insights into using new technologies to monitor and preserve cultural heritage, particularly in conflict zones and areas impacted by natural disasters. Special attention was given to the use of satellite imagery in monitoring Armenian cultural sites in Nagorno-Karabakh, where international experts have been unable to access heritage sites due to restrictions imposed by Azerbaijan.
Among the honorary guests was Dr Peter Stone, Chair of Blue Shield International, visiting Armenia for the first time. His participation provided a valuable opportunity for the newly established Armenian National Committee of Blue Shield to engage with him and discuss future plans and initiatives.
On the second day, the conference continued at the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, where local practices in photogrammetry, used to document Armenian cultural heritage sites, were showcased as part of TUMO’s educational programs.
The conference proved to be an invaluable experience, offering new insights, ideas, and prospects for collaboration.
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