Expert reveal deviation from Sanahin, Akhpat restoration project

ArmInfo. Specialists from the  Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia (MEKS)  visited the Sanahin and Haghpat monastery complexes in Lori region,  which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, to monitor the  progress of restoration work.

According to the press service of the MESCS of Armenia, the repair  and restoration of a group of monuments in the southern part of the  Sanahin monastery complex is being carried out with the funding of  the US Ambassadors' Fund for the Preservation of Cultural Values.

The department reported that specialists from the Department for the  Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments of the Ministry,  during the monitoring, identified some deviations from the approved  project during the restoration work at the Zakaryan tomb.

As noted, in this regard, a decision was made to change the type of  basalt used on the site in accordance with the project. In this  regard, the restoration work on the tomb was temporarily suspended to  discuss the proposed changes at a new scientific and methodological  council.

"The western wall of the Haghpat Monastery Complex and the tower  destroyed by the earthquake are being restored by order of the  Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia. The cost of the work is  about 54 million drams. At present, the collapsed tower has already  been completely restored, the foundations of the walls and towers  have been strengthened, and other repair work envisaged by the  project is underway," the Ministry of Education and Science added,  informing that the work is planned to be completed this year.