Friday, 30 November 2007
RA Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan received the delegation of Russian art and culture workers, led by Head of RF Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography Mikhail Shvydkoy. The delegation comprised Director General of the Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky, Artistic Director of the Moscow Drama Theater, USSR People's Artist Armen Djigarkhanyan, Russian Federation People's Artist, actor of the Academic Theater after Maiakovsky Igor Kostolevsky, Russian Federation People's Artist Veniamin Smekhov, Russian Federation People's Artist, artistic director of the Moscow Theater of Satire Alexander Shirvindt, editor-in-chief of "Ogoniok" review Victor Loshak.
Welcoming the members of delegation, the Prime Minister noted the importance of meetings like this which, according to the head of the government of Armenia, provide an excellent opportunity for the strengthening centuries-old friendship between our two peoples, the expansion and deepening of bilateral relationship. They allow taking great delight in close communication with favorite and talented figures. "I am aware of your meetings in our country and it is my pleasure to see that you are seconding the efforts applied at a State level for the strengthening and development of the Armenian-Russian relationship," - Serzh Sargsyan said and added that culture and art have always played a significant role in the strengthening of friendship between peoples.
Head of the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography Mikhail Shvydkoy and other members of the delegation in attendance of the meeting spoke with satisfaction about their impressions of Armenia, the active and dynamically developing Armenian-Russian ties in the sphere of culture and went on to emphasize that this was promoted by the thoughtfulness displayed on the part of the authorities of Armenia and Russia, as well as by the ever-strengthening political, economic exchanges. M. Shvydkoy spoke about the willingness of establishing a monument to symbolize the Armenian-Russian friendship, which was endorsed by Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan. The head of the Armenian government pointed out to the importance of holding in the two countries representative actions such as the Year of Armenia in France and the Year of France in Armenia. He further said that the "Sacred Armenia" exhibition as held in France within the framework of the Year of Armenia and handed over to the Museum of History of Armenia is susceptible to arouse a great interest in Russia. The Director General of the Hermitage and the Head of the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography of the Russian Federation accepted with pleasure and gratitude the proposal and noted that the preparations for such an exposition are underway in both the Hermitage and the capital of the Russian Federation.
During the meeting, the parties have emphasized the great value of the Memorandum on Cooperation between the RA Ministry of Culture and the RF Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography due to be signed in 2008, as well as that of the Season of Russian Culture in Armenia in 2008, expected to offer the Armenian spectator another opportunity of dialogue with the Russian art.
