UNESCO evaluator Professor Tran Tan Van visited Aras Aspiring Geopark among a three-days mission.

After submission of the application dossier of Aras geopark to UNESCO in 2019 for join the global geoparks network and initial approval from UNESCO, Aras geopark was waiting for the presence of UNESCO evaluators for field visit and receiving the final approval of this membership. The interruption in UNESCO missions due to the COVID Pandemic caused this evaluation to be postponed until June this year. Finally Professor Van, one of the UNESCO evaluator from Vietnam, visited Aras geopark and all its geosites as well as local community activities related to geopark in a three-day mission in June 2022.

At the beginning of his mission, Professor Van met with some senior officials of Aras geopark, including the CEO of Ares Free Zone Organization, the cultural, social and tourism deputy of AFZ, and the governor of Jolfa City. Also, in a technical meeting with the presence of Aras geopark director, experts and advisor of Aras geopark, Professor Van, discussed the agenda and exchanged opinions with the executive team of Aras geopark.

At the end of his mission, Professor Van expressed his satisfaction with the condition and functioning of Aras geopark and by offering some recommendations, he expressed hope that after sending his detailed report to the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, we will see Aras geopark becomes a member of UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.