Armenian ministry responds to UNESCO Ayntab embroidery listing

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Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports says it does not have the authority to respond to UNESCO’s decision to recognize Ayntab (Antep) Armenian embroidery as part of Turkey’s intangible cultural heritage.

The decision, which placed the embroidery tradition on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under Turkey’s nomination, has sparked criticism and protest among Armenian folk artists and embroidery masters. They argue that the craft is historically Armenian and object to its classification as Turkish cultural heritage.

Panorama.am asked the ministry what steps had been taken either to prevent the approval of Turkey’s application or to respond following UNESCO’s decision.

The ministry said that coordination of Armenia’s engagement with UNESCO in the fields of education, science, culture, communication and information is the responsibility of the Armenian National Commission for UNESCO, which operates under the Foreign Ministry. As a result, officials said the issue falls outside the remit of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.

At the same time, the ministry stressed that Armenian embroidery is officially registered in Armenia’s national inventory of intangible cultural heritage values.