Geneva, December 15-16, 2008 First UN Forum on Minority Issues Minorities and the Right to Education Comments by Ms. Hasmik SIMONYAN Third Secretary, Human Rights Desk, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Comments on the following recommendations have been made: ItemIII: Essential requirements for an effective education strategy As a starting point, our delegation would propose the compilation of the list of shortcomings and respective measures aimed at their elimination. The latter requires allocation of adequate financial resources. From our own experience it’s worth noting that starting from 2000, the Republic of Armenia state budget allocates 10 million per year in grants to address cultural and educational issues of national minorities. This grant program is implemented by national minority NGOs. Effective education strategy also implies the possibility to get education in native language. To guarantee this, there is a need to involve a specific national minority’s scientific and pedagogical potential. In this regard, state support for education and training of teachers of national minority languages is of utmost importance. For the effectiveness of the education strategy authorities also have to ensure that persons belonging to a national minority broadly and actively participate in school management and administration. Concluding, we would like to stress opportunities for setting up and managing their own private educational and training establishments have to be created for the representatives of national minorities. [finish]