Epress.am News from Armenia
Fragments of the statue of Armenian Goddess Anahit stored in the British Museum will be temporarily on exhibit in Armenia, UK Ambassador to Armenia Katherine Leach told journalists in Yerevan today, following a demonstration outside the embassy earlier today.
As reported by the Armenian Youth Federation, the organizer of today’s demonstration, coordinator of the Federation’s Board of Trustees Karen Avagyan and RA Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan today delivered a letter to Ambassador Leach signed by more than 20,000 youth asking that the statue be returned to Armenia.
After her meeting with Avagyan and Ashotyan, Ambassador Leach informed journalists about the good news from the British Museum. This move, according to her, will be viewed as cooperation between museums and a strengthening of Armenia-UK relations.
The education minister, expressing gratitude that the statue will be temporarily on display in Armenia, said that they, however, are not satisfied with only a temporary exhibit.
“We view this step as a wonderful opportunity given to the Armenian public — to return our pride, our cultural artifacts,” he said.