RUSSIAN AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS OPEN YEAR OF RUSSIA

RIA Novosti, Russia
March 25 2005

YEREVAN, March 25 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan will participate in the opening
ceremony of Armenia’s Year of Russia, held in Yerevan.

According to a source in the Armenian presidential administration,
the main purpose of Putin’s trip to the country is to take part in
the festivities.

“This significant event meets the traditional ties of friendship
and spiritual and cultural closeness of the two peoples. It is
especially significant in view of the celebration this year of the 60th
anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War,” the source said.

The Year of Russia program includes about 120 joint events in
political, economic, humanitarian, scientific, technological and
inter-regional areas.

According to a spokesman of the Russian embassy’s press service in
Armenia, the Year of Russia will provide for trade and industrial
exhibitions and fairs, expansion of the exchange of economic
information and the holding of scientific and practical conferences
on various problems of bilateral and regional economic cooperation.

The Armenian public will be exposed to the best Russian theater
companies, achievements in the Russian musical, theater and art
schools, and today’s outstanding Russian performers in theater,
film and television.

Writers, poets, actors and producers will also meet during the course
of the Year of Russia.

The Bolshoi Ballet, The National Philharmonic Orchestra, The Moscow
Chekhov Art Theater, The Obraztsov State Central Puppet Theater and
The Alexandrov Academic Company of the Russian Army are all scheduled
to perform in Armenia.

“In the areas of education and science, the events under the
Year’s program will expand contacts between the higher educational
establishments of the two countries, to train and re-train specialists,
to hold scientific exchanges and events, aimed at strengthening the
position of the Russian language in Armenia and toorganize events
through the National Academies of Russia and Armenia, including all
kinds of forums on the priority themes of joint scientific studies,”
the spokesman said.

The opening ceremony of the Year of Russia in Armenia will end with
a big gala concert.

“A logical continuation of the Year of Russia in Armenia will be
the Year of Armenia in Russia in 2006. Its main aim is to open the
way for a public and business initiative, to establish direct human
contacts, to expand the informational and cultural exchange and to
deepen bilateral contacts,” the embassy’s spokesman said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress