Armenia and Egypt signed the Agreement for cooperation in the spheres of science, education, culture and sports in 1997. Since then, every year the Yerevan State University students from the Faculty of Oriental Studies intern at the Cairo University for a period of 9 months specializing in the Arabic language and literature.
Improving cultural and educational ties between Armenia and Egypt is the fifth component of “four plus one” policy aimed for strengthening the relationship between the two countries. During the first official visit of the Armenian Prime Minister, Andranik Margaryan, to Egypt in December 2005, the countries signed two executive programs for enhancing educational and cultural ties between Egypt and Armenia. An undergraduate and post-graduate student exchange program, which will offer scholarships for Egyptian and Armenian students, scientists and researchers, has been approved by the two countries.
During his recent visit to Egypt in December 2006, the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Academician Dr. Radik Martirosyan, participated in the Inter-Academy International Conference held in Alexandria. Dr. Martirosyan also met with the management of the Cairo University to discuss further development of scientific cooperation between Egypt and Armenia, exchange of scientists between the two countries, as well as works in progress towards founding the Chair of Armenian Studies at the Philology Department of the Cairo University in 2007.
Culture
The cultural ties between Armenia and Egypt are represented in numerous initiatives of the Embassy of Armenia during 2006.
While celebrating the 1600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet, the Embassy of Armenia organized an exhibition of medieval Armenian manuscripts in the Central Hall of the Library of Alexandria during February 5-25, 2006. The manuscripts were presented by the Armenian Institute of Ancient Manuscripts after Mesrop Mashtots, Matenadaran, which is a unique museum and a scientific center with its collection of more than 30 thousand ancient manuscripts. In line with the exhibition, a scientific conference entitled “Armenia and Egypt: Historical-Cultural links” took place on February 9, 2006. The participants of the conference were Academician Dr. Sen Arevshatyan, Director of Matenadaran, Academician Dr. Vladimir Barkhudaryan, Vice Chairman of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, Dr. Nikolay Hovhannisyan,the director of the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies, as well as a number of scientists from Matenadaran. A cooperation agreement was signed between the Library of Alexandria and Matendaran.
On April 2, 2006, the Embassy sponsored the presentation of a book “Armenians in Egypt:The contribution of Armenians to the Medieval and Modern Egypt” at the Mubarak Public Library in Cairo. Written by a former Egyptian-Armenian, Sona Zeitlian, this book was the first attempt to present in English the role and place of the Armenian community in the most interesting and vital periods of Egyptian history. The writer charts the participation of Armenians in different fields of political, social and cultural life of Egypt under the successive rules of Byzantine, Fatimid, Ayubid, Mamluk dynasties and the Ottoman empire; the activities of Armenians in the political life of Egypt during the reign of Mohamed Ali and afterwards; the contribution of Armenians in the development of finances, trade, industry, architecture, press and arts in Egypt. The book was published in the USA in English. The preface of the book contains messages of appreciation from the Ambassador of Egypt to the USA and Ambassador of the League of Arab States to the USA, while the foreword is written by the Ambassador of Armenia to Egypt, Dr. Rouben Karapetian.
While celebrating the 15th year of Armenia’s independence, the Embassy of Armenia organized the performance of a well-known Armenian ensemble Cadence in the Cairo and Alexandria Opera Houses on September 23 and 25, 2006.
Also, at the invitation of Egypt’s Minister of Culture, the Armenian National Theater after G. Sundukyan participated in the International Festival of Experimental Theater which was held in Cairo during September 10-20, 2006. The group of nine Armenian actors headed by the director Suren Shahverdyan, received the “Best Director” award for their “Psychosis 4.48” titled performance. In the following year, two Armenian theatre groups participated in the Cairo International Festival of Experimental Theatre in September 2007. Goyak Art Business Company gave two performances in Al Gomhouria Theatre, while Armenian State Puppet Theatre performed in Al Arayes Theatre.
During the official visit of the President of Armenia and the First Lady, the Armenian National Ballet and Opera Theater performed in Cairo and Alexandria the “Gayane” ballet by a famous Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian. Dedicated to the marking of the 15th anniversary of bilateral relations between Egypt and Armenia, the performance was under the auspices of Egypt’s First Lady, Susanne Mubarak. The ballet was attended by both First Ladies, a number of government officials and foreign ambassadors.
On April 2, 2006, the Embassy sponsored the presentation of a book “Armenians in Egypt:The contribution of Armenians to the Medieval and Modern Egypt” at the Mubarak Public Library in Cairo. Written by a former Egyptian-Armenian, Sona Zeitlian, this book was the first attempt to present in English the role and place of the Armenian community in the most interesting and vital periods of Egyptian history. The writer charts the participation of Armenians in different fields of political, social and cultural life of Egypt under the successive rules of Byzantine, Fatimid, Ayubid, Mamluk dynasties and the Ottoman empire; the activities of Armenians in the political life of Egypt during the reign of Mohamed Ali and afterwards; the contribution of Armenians in the development of finances, trade, industry, architecture, press and arts in Egypt. The book was published in the USA in English. The preface of the book contains messages of appreciation from the Ambassador of Egypt to the USA and Ambassador of the League of Arab States to the USA, while the foreword is written by the Ambassador of Armenia to Egypt, Dr. Rouben Karapetian. 
