Saturday, 2 December 2006
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan-led government delegation has arrived in Saint Petersburg on December 2, 2006, to participate in the ceremonial closing of Armenia's Year in Russia. He has already attended the official opening of "Armenia's Culture" exhibition at the Hermitage. This renewable exposition as hosted by the Hermitage after restoration of its premises covers an important section of history, namely the I-XIX centuries. The Hellenic culture of Armenia is represented by an exceptional specimen of history, the capital of Garni's pagan temple. Medieval Armenian arts and culture, especially miniature painting, are highly present among the exhibits. The exhibits of the Hermitage include old Armenian manuscripts made well beyond its current frontiers. Cilician Armenia, too, is represented in the exposition. There is a large amount of silverware featuring clerical and household articles made by the Armenian silversmiths of XVII-XIX centuries. Khachkars are broadly represented, too.
The importance of this valuable exposition as another evidence of the Armenian-Russian friendship and cooperation was stressed in the remarks of Director of the Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky, RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Hasmik Pogosyan, Head of RF Federal Agency of Culture and Cinematography Mikhail Shvydko. After the opening of the exhibition, the RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs and the Head of RF Federal Agency of Culture and Cinematography signed the program of cooperation for 2007-2009.
Later in the evening, the official closing ceremony of the Year of Armenia was held at the Yekaterinsky Palace, at which speeches were delivered by RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan and RF First Deputy Head of Government Dimitry Medvedev. In his remarks, Mr. Mevedev emphasized the high level of the celebrations of the Year of Armenia in the Russian Federation. He said, in particular:
