Parliament continues its regular sittings: It is planned to replace term “reserve-museum” with term “archaeological site-museum”

On May 7, the Parliament continued its regular sittings.

The word "reserve" is used in the Law on the Protection and Use of Immovable Monuments of History and Culture and the Historical Environment, which does not correspond to international terminology. It is planned to replace the term "reserve-museum" with the term "archaeological site-museum." This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia Alfred Kocharyan.

The draft law on Making Addenda and Amendments to the Law on the Protection and Use of Immovable Monuments of History and Culture and the Historical Environment and the attached package of draft laws were debated in the first reading.

According to the key rapporteur, similar institutional units in the world are called archaeological sites, which directly derives from the status of their management and protection. He noted that in the modern Armenian explanatory dictionary, the word "archeological site" is defined as "a place of antiquities, ancient monuments, a place of archaeological excavations."

The other amendment is intended to correct the contradictions in the laws on the Preservation and Use of Immovable Monuments of History and Culture and the Historical Environment, on Urban Development and on Local Self-Government.

Alfred Kocharyan answered the MPs' questions, presenting clarifications on the established regulations, the relationship between monuments and the economy.

The endorsement of the Standing (Head) Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport on the draft was presented by the Committee member Narek Babayan.

In their speeches, the MPs referred to the amendments and addenda proposed by the draft, the acts to be established, and the replacement of the term "reserve-museum" with the term "archaeological site-museum."

In her speech, on behalf of the RA NA Armenia Faction, Lilit Galstyan emphasized that replacing the term "reserve" with the term "archeological site" does not reflect the substantive and legal relationships of all the institutional structures already operating in the field. She noted that the proposed amendment creates legal uncertainties.

In his closing speech, Alfred Kocharyan addressed the observations made in the speeches, presenting additional clarifications on the proposed amendments.