YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. The culture ministry of Armenia plans to present the Yereruyk Basilica for UNESCO’s tangible cultural heritage list, deputy minister of culture Arev Samuelyan told ARMENPRESS, adding they also want to present Dvin, which is also a very significant value for including in the world heritage list.

“We want to add the Sanahin Bridge to the bid of the Sanahin monastic complex and Haghpat monastery – the UNESCO world heritage site. However this is a long process and it might take years”, she said.

Speaking about the Iranian Blue Mosque in Yerevan, she said the ministry is negotiating with the Iranian side for several months already over including it in UNESCO’s world heritage list, however no clear agreement has been reached so far.

Back in the 90s the Armenian and Iranian sides signed a commercial and scientific cooperation agreement, and later a memorandum of understanding, based on which the Blue Mosque was partially restored by 1998 and was given to the Iranian Embassy as a cultural center of Iran.

The deputy minister also spoke about UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage. “Each country has the right to make submissions once every two years. This year, our agenda includes submitting ‘Kochari’ to the UNESCO list of intangible heritage”, she said.

The UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list already includes four cultural values of Armenia – Duduk and its music, Armenian cross-stones art. Symbolism and craftsmanship of Khachkars, Performance of the Armenian epic of 'Daredevils of Sassoun' or 'David of Sassoun', Lavash, the preparation, meaning and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in Armenia.

Yereruyk Basilica is located in the village of Anipemza in the Shirak Province of Armenia.

The fourth-fifth century basilica of Yererouk, which is built on a rocky knoll pierced by caves, is one of the earliest Christian monuments in Armenia.