A monument to the Armenian alphabet was unveiled in Strasbourg near the European Parliament building in the presence of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
The statue, titled “Armatagir-Script: The Power of Roots, the Strength of Dialogue,” was installed by the Republic of Armenia in the area adjacent to the European Parliament’s administrative building as a sign of gratitude for the parliament’s continuous support, the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.
The sculpture is composed of letters of the Armenian alphabet.
In her speech, Metsola said dialogue is the cornerstone of democracy and brings people together.
“That is what the European Parliament is about: building dialogue with each other, with citizens and with the world around us,” she said.
Metsola added that the depiction of the Armenian alphabet strengthens the Armenian language’s place in Europe’s rich and diverse dialogue. She also quoted Armenian poet Silva Kaputikyan: “Wherever you are, wherever you go under this moon, do not forget your mother tongue.”
Pashinyan said the creation of the Armenian alphabet in the 5th century is one of the key pillars of Armenian identity.
He added that the sculpture symbolically highlights the connection between Armenian identity and European identity, noting that speech, knowledge and written text are fundamental elements of democracy, which cannot exist without communication, writing, speeches and laws.
