Armenia and Bulgaria will expand their cultural cooperation.

From now on, the bilateral cooperation will involve not only literature, but also cinema, theater, music, dancing, arts, museums and architecture.

On Thursday, Armenian Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan and her Bulhgarian counterpart Vezhdi Letif Rashidov signed a document on bilateral cultural cooperation for 2012-2014.

Armenia and Bulgaria officially established cultural cooperation back in 1994. Under a relevant bilateral cooperation agreement, programs have been implemented.

“This is not Mr Rashidov’s first visit to Armenia. He was hosted in Gyumri, Spitak and by the Yerevan mayor,” Minister Poghosyan said. She noted that Mr Rashidov visited Armenia after the devastating earthquake and donated his author’s fees to the Gyumri residents.

Mr Rashidov is a freeman of Yerevan and Gyumri. Minister Poghosyan awarded a gold medal to her Bulgarian counterpart for his contribution to Armenia’s life.

Mr Rashidov said that he has been surrounded by “very talented Armenians” during his life. Some of them are his colleagues now. He introduced one of the delegation members, Andranik Arabajyan, one of the world-famous jugglers.

Nothing is better that living ties between two nations, and culture is a means of consolidating these ties, Mr Rashidov said.