ASTANA – A ceremonial event was held in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, to mark the opening of a street named after Mesrop Mashtots.
The event was attended by Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin, Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva, and other officials.
Minister Zhanna Andreasyan noted that an important page is being opened in the history of mutual respect, friendship, and cultural cooperation between the two peoples. “Mesrop Mashtots is not only one of the pillars of the Armenian people’s spiritual and cultural identity, but also one of the most significant contributors to human civilization. His legacy has carried forward—from the depths of centuries—a bridge of education, culture, and historical memory.”
She added that it is no coincidence that the first sentence translated into Armenian from the Book of Proverbs—“To know wisdom and instruction; to understand words of insight”—became a profound message to the Armenian people, shaping their intellect and spirit across all eras.
“By gaining wisdom and instruction and understanding the words of genius, we build our present and future on a foundation that values culture. This, I believe, fully reflects the universal significance of Mesrop Mashtots’s intellect. And today his name will also be heard here, in the heart of Kazakhstan, as a symbol of enlightenment and friendship between peoples,” the minister said. She added that earlier this April a park in Yerevan’s Avan district was named after Abay Kunanbayev, the founder of Kazakh literature.
According to the minister, the symbolic corner in Yerevan bearing Abay’s name is not only an example of tolerance and mutual respect, but also a living testament to the spiritual and cultural ties between the two nations. “In Yerevan’s Abay Park, and now here on Mashtots Street, bridges seem to form between our two cultures—bridges that carry not only names but values: peace, education, creativity, and friendship. Armenia and Kazakhstan, with their histories, with the legacies of their great thinkers, and with their aspirations for the future, have always complemented one another. I am confident that the opening of Mashtots Street marks a new beginning for deepening our nations’ cultural and educational ties.”
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva also stressed that opening a street named after Mashtots in Astana is an important event. “This is a symbolic occasion reflecting the friendship between our countries. Mashtots’s work shows that culture begins with language, and societal development begins with education. Kazakhstan and Armenia enjoy strong friendly relations. This year we mark the 33rd anniversary of diplomatic relations—years in which significant achievements have been recorded in political, economic, cultural, and other fields. Today, a memorandum will be signed to expand cooperation in the fields of museum work, libraries, and cinematography.”
