ArmInfo.With the passage of time, cardinal changes took place in the life of Armenia and Russia and the peoples of the two countries, but the mutual warmth and sincerity of peoples, imbued with simple human destinies, remained unchanged. This was stated by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan at the opening ceremony of the Days of Armenian Culture in Russia in the Tretyakov Gallery.
"Today's event is timed to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries and the 20th anniversary of the conclusion of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation, which are significant dates that indicate a qualitatively new level of Armenian- Russian strategic allied relations, built on the centuries-old bonds of friendship, with which the destinies of our fraternal peoples are intertwined. We always - in peacetime, and in the years of hard trials - were together. Our fathers and grandfathers once fought shoulder to shoulder at the front I take this opportunity to thank and gratefully celebrate the opening of the bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union Marshal Ovanesu Hristoforovichu Bagramyanu in the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow ", -. said the Armenian leader.
At the same time, he noted that in the last quarter-century, impressive progress has been made in the development of humanitarian contacts between the two countries. The Armenian leader emphasized that the Armenian and Russian peoples committed to traditional values and national identities were always open and deeply interested in interpenetrating cultures. "We have much in common: openness, kindness, sociability, emotionality and, of course, receptivity to everything new." Russia is rightly considered one of the world's cultural centers. It is no coincidence that a significant part of Armenian cultural figures - our writers, musicians , architects and artists, have become not only graduates of the Russian school of art, but also the successors of its glorious traditions that multiply the common cultural and spiritual heritage. Today the culture of Armenia, like the culture of Russia, can not be represented without such figures as Ivan Aivazovsky, Aram Khachaturyan, Arno Babadzhanyan, Mikael Tariverdiyev and many other outstanding figures who became symbols of the Armenian-Russian friendship. It is no coincidence that we open the Days of Armenian Culture by the exhibition of the works of one of the great painters of the twentieth century - Martiros Saryan , a bold innovator who skillfully connected the picturesque traditions of the East with new trends of Russian and European art of the 20th century. And literally today in Moscow a memorial plaque was opened to the great master on the facade of the house where he lived. Still half a century ago Saryan said: "Art can humanize, bring to people all the amazing discoveries of science and technology." This was Saryan's perception of the world and the understanding of culture, perpetuated in his work by universal human timeless values. I am sure that over time we will have new Saryans and Aivazovsky, Khachaturians and Tariverdiyevs, and our cooperation in the field of culture will grow bright and interesting projects, "Sargsyan said.
At the same time, he called it noteworthy that the days of Armenian culture are held not only in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also in the regions of Russia. According to him, this is an excellent opportunity to get even closer to each other, to open unknown pages of the history of our country, the culture of our people. "I am sure that this great cultural project will give impetus to the development of bilateral relations and their subsequent mutual enrichment." The unique literary and musical heritage of Russian culture, the monuments of Russia's architecture, the traditions of the people of Russia have always been of great interest in our country. within the framework of the Days of Armenian Culture will be equally interesting both for representatives of culture and art, and for the general public and, in particular, for the younger generation. arity Russian leader also for the return to Armenia of the great painter Mihaila Vrubelya "Demon and Angel with Tamara's soul", which was stolen from Armenia in 1995. " - Sargsyan summed up.