In school textbooks, the highest mountain of Armenia is Aragats. What does Pashinyan refer to?

In the main photo, the view of Ararat from the top of Aragats. Source: Cosmo Deus 

Answering a question about the ideological significance of Ararat and Aragats mountains during a meeting with journalists on May 22, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that children in Armenian schools are taught that Ararat is the highest mountain in Armenia, which, according to the Prime Minister, causes Turkey’s negative attitude towards Armenia.

“Whenever I meet with children, students, and we talk about geography, and so on, I ask children what the highest mountain in the Republic of Armenia is… And at least half or more than half of the children say Ararat.

Now let’s look at this from their perspective. They are looking at us from the opposite side, from Turkey. They say that Ararat… is in the internationally recognized territory of Turkey. Now if in Armenia… Where do the children get this information? They learn from attending classes in schools. In other words, as a result of the educational policy implemented by the government.

They say, well, if this child is now saying that the highest mountain in Armenia is Ararat and not Aragats, does this mean that the Republic of Armenia has territorial claims against Turkey? Wait a minute. If the Republic of Armenia has territorial claims against Turkey, why should we support, contribute or even ignore the development of the Republic of Armenia in any way? On the contrary, if they have territorial claims against us, we should do everything to destroy them,” concluded Pashinyan.

Thus, according to the Prime Minister of Armenia, children are taught in schools that the highest mountain in Armenia is Ararat.

Meanwhile, the geography textbook currently used in schools refutes the Prime Minister’s claim. The highest mountain in Armenia is referred to in the 9th grade “Geography of Armenia” textbook. According to the textbook, the highest peak in Armenia is Aragats (4090m).

The photo is taken from the 9th grade textbook “Geography of Armenia”. 2020 edition. Authors: Maxim Manasyan, Armen Hovsepyan

Thus, it should be noted that the Prime Minister’s claim that children are taught in schools that Ararat is the highest mountain of the Republic of Armenia is ungrounded. Moreover, it is clearly stated in the 9th grade geography textbook that the highest peak in Armenia is Aragats.

Since we cannot rule out that some schools or some teachers may provide alternative information to students, we leave the Prime Minister’s claim without a verdict. The Fact Investigation Platform is also trying to get a comment from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.

Sevada Ghazaryan