The government of the Republic of Armenia has approved the project “On Amendments and Additions to the Law of the Republic of Armenia on the Protection of non-material Cultural Heritage,” which was adopted by the National Assembly on January 20, 2011. The aim of this project is to preserve and enrich the values of non-material cultural heritage that are necessary for the sustainable development of the Republic of Armenia.

This process is regulated by the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the provisions of the Law of the Republic of Armenia on the Protection of Non-Material Cultural Heritage. The acceptance of this project is crucial for properly documenting and implementing the values of non-material cultural heritage that are necessary for the sustainable development of the Republic of Armenia.

The list of values of non-material cultural heritage has been expanded from 19 elements to 33. Some of the newly included elements are “Wax Par,” “Stone and Sword,” “Carpet Weaving in Gyumri,” “Preparation of Honeycomb,” “Short Poems,” “Beekeeping Tradition,” “The Art of Roasting Coffee and Tea in Goris and Sisian,” “Preparation and Use of Bread from Wholemeal Flour and Barley,” “Matzoon Mat,” and “Buko Barane Tseh.” The list also includes information about previously registered elements such as “Karas Xach,” “Larakhaghatsutyun,” “Songs of the Condition,” “Folk Songs,” and “Kachpur.”

Preserving the values of non-material cultural heritage in these lists plays a vital role in transferring national cultural heritage to future generations and enhancing the recognition of the Republic of Armenia in the international arena.