Lori celebrated Europe Day with grand festivities
Another significant event dedicated to Europe Day took place in Armenia. On 17 May, at the COAF SMART Center in Lori, Europe Day commenced with a media literacy workshop, aligned with EU’s commitment to fighting disinformation.
The training for the students and guests of the COAF SMART Center was organized by the Young European Ambassadors. Experts Artur Zakare Harutyunyan and Tsovik Sargsyan led the participants through the effective methods for distinguishing between reliable and unreliable sources of information, understanding the risks associated with social media and the tools to mitigate them.
EU Ambassador Vasilis Maragos delivered a welcome speech, emphasizing the importance of educating young people and combating disinformation together. He also highlighted the significance of the day’s events.
“This event is important for Armenia, it is important for Europe, it is important for the youth. The event contributes to the empowerment of the future and will give the residents of the region an opportunity to develop their talents and show what they are capable of” the Ambassador said in his speech.
Ara Barsam, Global Executive Director of the “COAF SMART” Center, also mentioned all the opportunities created through the EU support and emphasized the transformative journey of EU programs and their continued impact on Armenia’s regions through partnerships. “This is a partnership that touches many lives and brings change. This partnership is stable in both bad and good times. It is EU support that enables us to create educational and work opportunities and provide health services for many families and children in Lori”, the Director said.
As part of the Europe Day celebrations, a panel discussion titled “EU4Regions” was held at the “COAF SMART” Center, focusing on EU’s influence on regional development. The panel discussion was moderated by Silja Kasmann, Deputy Head of the Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia.
The panel discussion brought together representatives and beneficiaries of EU funded projects such as LEAD4Lori and Tavush, Innojevan, Mayors for Economic Growth regional facility, and the EU4Business Innovative Tourism and Technology Development for Armenia. The discussion also featured Austria’s experience in regional development exploring the untapped opportunities and work done by Austrian Cooperation in Armenia, including through the EU-funded LEAD4Shirak and EU GAIA projects.
Simultaneously, an Info Fair and a multi-genre concert took place in the outdoor area of the center. The Info Fair showcased EU-supported projects and local products.
The guests of the event, led by Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, toured the area and became personally acquainted with the supported programs and representatives of the individuals and organizations implementing them.
In the evening, the visitors enjoyed a concert featuring Aram MP3, the rock band “Lav Eli,” Hayk Petrosyan, Vahagn Hayrapetyan, Dave Geodakyan, Arman Mnatsakanyan, and Daniel Melkonyan. They presented the “Thank You Charles” music program, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Charles Aznavour.
