OFFICIAL CEREMONY OF "AWARD 2009 OF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC" HELD
Panorama.am
13/05/2010
The official award giving ceremony of the "Award 2009 of President of
the Republic" took place in President’s Residence today. It’s worth
mentioning that the event is supported by "Poghosian" Foundation
(France).
Today at 20:00 concert will be performed in Chamber music hall after
Komitas with the participation of laureates, best singers and musicians
who received President’s award in "Classical music" category.
21 best performers out of 137 have been awarded in 13 categories.
President Serzh Sargsyan handed awards to the winners and released
speech saying:
"Dear laureates, I congratulate you on receiving RA President’s Award.
Today it’s pleasing for me to implement this responsibility, since this
ceremony is jubilee. It’s the 10th time we award the representatives of
science and art. This is truly a beautiful and important idea. Being
founded by Poghosian family it regularly encourages our laureates
and rules the attention of our people to the event.
In this respect I say my word of appreciation to Poghosians’ family.
All those competition achievements are of great significance for us.
But I’d like to point those two laureates whose activities directly
concern the scientific motivation of Armenian Genocide and has a
mission to counteract with the rejection. I think the significance
and innovation of our successes recorded in this sphere are obvious
for everybody.
With special warmth I’d like to congratulate our young laureates –
the painters, musicians, writers, whose debut is marked by an award.
I hope this event will be a contribution for them and will mark new
stage in their creative life. I wish our scientists to continue their
achievements. I’m sure that kind of creations would contribute to
improvement of competency of our scientists in the modern world. Both,
the achievements of science and art are necessary components of any
peoples’ living and development.
By creating and educating we pass the breath of new era to our
centuries-old path. And we’ll record good results if we don’t lack
trust, energy, respect towards work and creation. Your successes
smooth country’s path. I don’t doubt that future will be bright and
light. Once more I congratulate you, I wish you further creative
achievements."
The President of "Poghosian" Foundation Jean Poghosian also took
the floor.
"This is a very important award ceremony and I’m very happy to be here
and mark the 10th jubilee of this award. I wish the laureates will,
talent to face the challenges and make success. Mr. President, since
the previous year you have made considerable efforts to promote the
dialogue with Turkey. This is a very significant and courageous step.
Evidently, the Turkish side did not duly appreciate your efforts. All
of us know that today’s Turks are not those having committed the
Genocide. The past cannot be changed but the future can be. When the
Armenian people called the events Mets Yeghern, the term genocide
didn’t exist then. But, as I have always stated, I’m optimistic that
a leader will appear beyond the border and will be illuminated one
day to make the reality available for their own people and on this
very day, they will find the solution, will heal the scars. I’m sure,
one day Turkey will recognize the Armenian Genocide. Thus, we are
thankful to all the brave scholars in Turkey who are making efforts
towards the recognition of the Genocide. They will help find the
solution of our problem so that crimes against the humanity don’t
reoccur. We are thankful to all the persons and organizations who
promote the international recognition, as well as the states having
recognized the Genocide.
"Suisse-Armenie" Association has celebrated a serious victory in the
struggle against genocide rejection. And here among the laureates is
also William Shabas, the President of the international association.
He has made a significant contribution to the Armenian Genocide
recognition. I thank all the laureates for the achievements, talent
and the work done. Hopefully, many will follow you," he said.
Armenian President’s Awards 2009 have been conferred in the spheres
of natural sciences, technical sciences and information technologies,
physics, medicine, art, literature, humanities.
Government members, "Armenia" All-Armenian Fund Board members,
representatives of local bodies, Foundation benefactors, intellectuals,
honorary guests from Armenia and abroad were attending the ceremony.
"Suisse-Armenie" Association (Switzerland) the International
Association of Genocide Scholars (Ireland) were granted awards for
their significant contribution to Armenian Genocide recognition.
"Armenia" All-Armenian Fund has been organizing the award ceremony for
10 years. 161 intellectuals and arts critics, including 40 talented
youths well-known both in Armenia and abroad, have been awarded so
far. Among them are writers Razmik Davoyan, Alexander Topchyan, Aghasi
Ayvazyan, arts critics Henrik Igityan, Robert Elibekyan, scholar Vazgen
Melikyan, singers Arsen Soghomonyan, Gevorg Hakobyan, and others.