U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Visits Matenadaran

Riley Barnes, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, visited Yerevan's Matenadaran, Armenia's ancient manuscript repository, according to reporting from Massis Post. During the visit, Barnes praised the institution, stating he could spend an entire day exploring its collections. The Matenadaran houses one of the world's largest collections of Armenian manuscripts and historical documents, spanning centuries of Armenian cultural and religious heritage. The visit represents continued diplomatic engagement between U.S. State Department officials and Armenian cultural institutions. The specific details of discussions or the official purpose of Barnes's visit to Armenia were not detailed in available reporting.