The Development and Preservation of Armenian Culinary Traditions NGO, in cooperation with the Armenian Tourism Federation, launched a new initiative.
On June 14, 2025, in the Arzni community of Armenia’s Kotayk Province, the “Diversity of Tastеs and Friendship of Nations” Armenian and National Minority Cultural Culinary Festival was successfully held with the support of the Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, and in partnership with the Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs of the RA Prime Minister’s Office, the Kotayk Regional Administration, and the Arzni Municipality.
The festival showcased the cultures of Armenia and its national minorities, including their cuisine, music, songs, and dances-highlighting both their commonalities and unique characteristics. Ethnic communities represented at the festival included the Assyrian, Yezidi, Ukrainian, German, Georgian, Greek, and Russian (Molokan) communities.
The festival was opened with presentation and serving traditional Armenian Ghapama, symbolizing a message of peace, solidarity, and friendship among peoples.
A culinary competition was also organized among the participating teams, with awards and certificates of appreciation presented to supporters and partners.
The festival contributed and will continue to contribute to the preservation, development, and promotion of the cultural heritage of Armenians and national minorities, fostering cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. It also plays a role in the creation of new, competitive tourism products, their proper representation and promotion on the global market, the discovery and development of the economic and cultural potential of host and surrounding communities, the decentralization of tourism to Armenia’s provinces and communities, and the country’s balanced and sustainable territorial economic development.
We express our gratitude to the RA Ministry of Economy’s Tourism Committee, the Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs of the RA Prime Minister’s Office, the Kotayk Regional Administration, the Arzni community and municipality, MP Alexey Sandikov, the Prime Minister’s Assistant Arsen Mikhaylov, and the ethnic minority communities who participated in the festival-for their support and cooperation.
