Armenian Minister of Education, Science and Culture Vahram Dumanyan and UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone met today in Paris and discussed, among other issues, the need to protect the Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh.

Dumanyan, now on a working visit to France, thanked Ottone for UNESCO’s work with Armenia over the years and hoped that such efforts will be expanded.

The two also discussed the possibility of getting a UNESCO technical mission to Artsakh and adjacent territories now controlled by Azerbaijan.

Baku has blocked any UNESCO team from going to the area.

The two, according to a statement released by Dumanyan’s office, also discussed issues related to current UNESCO programs carried out in Armenia including the possibilities of restoring the historical center of Gyumri.