Spanish Culture Days in Yerevan: two-day event at YSU

The two-day event, which has already become a tradition, was organized through the cooperation and efforts of the Armenian Studies Department at Complutense University of Madrid, the Chair of Romance Philology at YSU and the Embassy of Spain in Armenia. The event aims to give participants an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Armenian-Spanish cultural ties, explore the diverse aspects of the Spanish language and the history and culture of Spain, and take part in professional discussions, round-table discussions and film screenings followed by discussions.

Education at the heart of dialogue between cultures

YSU Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Elina Asriyan delivered opening remarks at the event. She emphasized that the initiative brings together people interested in Spanish culture, language and history, serving as a unique link between Armenia and Spain.

According to Asriyan, education is the force that makes it possible to open more doors and gain a deeper understanding of cultural values. She noted that YSU, particularly the Faculty of European Languages and Communication, has assumed the mission of building bridges between cultures by expanding opportunities for knowledge and cultural communication for students and the wider public.

The vice-rector also highlighted the shared values and cultural commonalities of the Armenian and Spanish peoples, expressing hope that Armenian Culture Days will also be held at one of Spain's universities in the future.

"We are all different, but we are often united by the same values, culture and way of thinking. I am confident that we still have much to do in deepening Armenian-Spanish cooperation," Asriyan said.

From cultural dialogue to academic cooperation

Marine Yaghubyan, Acting Dean of the YSU Faculty of European Languages and Communication, said the event also addresses Armenian-Spanish cultural interactions and their role in the development of academic cooperation, emphasizing the importance of deepening scientific and cultural ties between the two peoples.

She attached particular importance to the participation of lecturers, students, researchers and partners from various universities and other educational institutions in Armenia.

According to Yaghubyan, relations between Armenia and Spain are based on mutual respect, cultural exchange and scientific cooperation, while initiatives of this kind contribute to the further strengthening and development of those ties.

"It is a great pleasure for us to see students, lecturers, translators and specialists interested in Spanish culture, whose participation testifies to the growing importance of Spanish studies in Armenia," Yaghubyan said.

Spanish Culture Days in Yerevan as a valuable tradition  

Hasmik Baghdasaryan, Head of the Chair of Romance Philology at YSU, said the initiative of celebrating Spanish culture days in Yerevan has already become a valuable tradition. She emphasized the important role of the organizers and partners of the program, particularly Francisco Zurian, Professor and Head of the Armenian Studies Department at Complutense University of Madrid; Fernando Maria Giron Pascual, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Spain in Armenia; and the YSU leadership in supporting the organization of the event.

According to Baghdasaryan, in recent years, cooperation established with several Spanish universities has significantly contributed to the spread of the Spanish language and Spanish culture in Armenia. She noted that the establishment of the Armenian Studies Department at Complutense University of Madrid, the Center for Spanish Language and Spanish Culture operating under the auspices of the University of Granada, and the Armenian-Spanish Center created in cooperation with the University of Cadiz has opened new prospects for Armenian-Spanish academic and cultural cooperation. 

"Today, such initiatives have become a necessary condition for responding appropriately to the challenges of modern education. I am confident that this event will give new impetus to strengthening the centuries-old cultural ties between Armenia and Spain, which are based on common human and cultural values," Baghdasaryan said.

Education, culture and knowledge as a link between Armenia and Spain

Fernando Maria Giron Pascual, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Spain in Armenia, emphasized that the most sustainable foundation for strengthening Armenian-Spanish relations is mutual understanding, education, culture and human ties.

According to him, both Spain and Armenia are countries with rich historical and cultural heritage that attach great importance to preserving and passing on their traditions. Despite the geographical distance, there are many commonalities between the two peoples that contribute to the development of dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation.

He noted that interest in the Spanish language is growing in Armenia year by year, and more and more students, lecturers and translators view Spanish as an important tool of international communication and as an entry point into a cultural and linguistic community that unites hundreds of millions of people. According to him, the position of a Spanish language lecturer will be restored at Yerevan State University starting from the 2026-2027 academic year. To that end, YSU and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation signed a memorandum of cooperation this year, through which the Chair of Romance Philology will once again receive the support of a Spanish language specialist.

"In today's complex and contradictory world, cultural cooperation is gaining even greater value. Culture builds bridges where there are distances, creates trust where there is unfamiliarity and promotes mutual respect by overcoming stereotypes," Giron Pascual said.

He expressed confidence that the ideas and initiatives emerging during the event will contribute to the further strengthening of academic, linguistic and cultural ties between Armenia and Spain.

From cooperation to the formation of a research network

Francisco Zurian, Professor and Head of the Armenian Studies Department at Complutense University of Madrid, said the cooperation that began only a few years ago has developed much faster than expected, leading to the establishment of the Armenian Studies Department at Complutense University of Madrid and the strengthening of Armenian-Spanish academic ties. 

"It is very moving for me to see that, in such a short period of time, traditions of cooperation are already being formed between Armenia and Spain. This is not only a significant result but also an important incentive to continue our work," he said, emphasizing that YSU has already become part of his academic family.

He also highlighted the importance of the participation of scholars from various Spanish universities, stressing that, for the first time, a research network is being formed that will bring together specialists studying the Spanish and Armenian worlds.

"This is an important cultural and university event for Spain. We want Armenia, its history, culture and art to become recognizable in Spain, and Spanish and Spanish culture to become recognizable in Armenia," Professor Zurian said.

At the end of the two-day event, participants will receive certificates from Yerevan State University, Complutense University of Madrid, the Embassy of Spain in Armenia and other cooperating institutions.