A regular Cabinet meeting took place today, chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The Government adopted a decision, envisaging to allocate 17,074,985.2 thousand AMD to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia from the funds approved by the state budget for the "Road Network Improvement" program. Referring to road construction works, Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the need for quality and new standards. The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of implementing the programs in due time.

For the organization and implementation of the centenary celebration of the Armenian Film Foundation, the Government adopted a decision to provide funding to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports. As noted by the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, a trilingual picture book dedicated to the founder of Armenian cinema, Hamo Beknazarian, was published on the initiative of the ministry, which is distributed to various libraries and Armenian studies centers around the world. According to Zhanna Andreasyan, the program of events has multiple components. In particular, the "Armenian Cinema Century" program will be implemented, which will kick off on April 16 and will last for one year. Around 100 classical and modern films of Armenian cinema will be shown in the regions and in Yerevan.

The Head of the Government emphasized the holding of the 100-year jubilee events dedicated to the foundation of Armenian cinema also in terms of having a vision for the future and the development of cinema. Nikol Pashinyan considered the plan to create a high school of arts, a university of arts in the area of Hayfilm film studio as one of the longest discussed projects aimed at the development of the sector.

The Government allocated 157,816.1 thousand AMD from the reserve fund in order to provide humanitarian aid to the earthquak-affected population in Turkey and Syria. As the Minister of Emergency Situations Armen Pambukhchyan noted, humanitarian cargo was sent twice by air to Syria and twice by land to Turkey.

Responding, Nikol Pashinyan informed that the Armenian rescuers have returned from Syria, and today the Armenian rescuers are also returning by land from Turkey. "You know that the Minister of Foreign Affairs paid a visit to Turkey, which I think is a very important and symbolic event," said the Prime Minister and inquired about the details of the visit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that the main topic of the visit and discussions was the earthquake in Turkey. "I must state that the Turkish side, both at the level of the central authorities, and on the ground, and at the level of the population's reactions, positively evaluated the work of our rescuers and the provision of humanitarian aid. It deserved quite a positive reaction and gratitude. We also communicated with our rescuers, they told us how the population treated them. I think this was an important humanitarian step. Of course, we also discussed some issues related to bilateral relations, concrete agreements were reached. My Turkish partner told the media, and I can also state that there is a decision to speed up this process of dialogue and the processes taking place for the purpose of finally opening the borders.

Our rescuers, as you mentioned, will return again via the land border, just like the second batch of aid was sent. It was announced that we will carry out joint works on the restoration of the historical bridge of Ani. Basically, before the start of the tourist season, we will also try to complete the process of opening the land border for citizens of third countries and citizens with diplomatic passports of the two countries."

The Prime Minister noted that Armenia's actions are primarily and mostly humanitarian and have had a humanitarian motive. "I want to emphasize that I find the criticisms leveled at us absolutely unacceptable, because I can't imagine any situation where millions of people just across the door need support due to a natural disaster, and anyone can remain indifferent. It is absolutely unacceptable on any justification and for any reason.

On the other hand, already in my New Year's address and even before that and in the Government's Action Plan, we emphasized our vision to change the quality of our relations in the region. I am very sorry that this change of atmosphere occurs in the conditions of such an unprecedented disaster, but perhaps also objectively human tragedy makes people understand each other better. Maybe it is also an objective reality. I hope that this can really become a new starting point for the establishment of relations between Armenia and Turkey in the region," said the Head of the Government, adding that the architectural sketch for the reconstruction of the Ani bridge, which had been prepared long ago, can become a symbolic step.

Nikol Pashinyan also referred to the humanitarian work being carried out in the direction of Syria. "I must say that I also consider our work in the direction of Syria very important. You know that there were objective and subjective circumstances that made humanitarian aid to Syria less accessible. I must record that Armenia was one of the first countries that made a decision and sent humanitarian aid to Syria. We are also planning the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Syrian Arab Republic. If our Syrian partners do not mind, we will organize it in the near future. I also think that the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs should definitely visit Syria in order to express our support."