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On April 22, in the section called Pushkin bends of Vanadzor-Tashir highway the RA NA Vice President Hakob Arshakyan took part in the solemn opening ceremony of the statue to Alexander Pushkin.

The members of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee on Cooperation between the RA NA and the RF FA, the Ambassadors representing the diplomatic corps of the two countries Vagharshak Harutyunyan and Sergei Kopyrkin, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan and the representatives of the Russian community attended the opening ceremony.

This year the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia turns. Within the framework of this jubilee, the 34^th meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee on Cooperation between the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation is held, which takes place in Stepanavan this year.

In his welcoming speech the RA NA Vice President, the Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee on the Armenian-Russian Cooperation Hakob Arshakyan has underlined that the opening of the statue witnesses to the cultural ties, rich traditions and friendly close relations between Armenia and Russia. He has expressed conviction that Pushkin’s work is a world heritage, monuments were erected to his honour in many cities of the world. In Armenia monuments are erected in Yerevan, Gyumri, Stepanavan. In 1937, Pushkin School has functioned, one of the central streets of the capital bears the great poet’s name.

“Today the importance of the opening of the statue is great. It is confirmed by the respect towards the great son of Russia, and it is the bright evidence of the centuries-old friendship and mutual understanding, which have been formed between our peoples. It is symbolic that the statue is erected this year significant for our countries,” Hakob Arshakyan stressed.

In his opening speech, the Chair of the Committee on Defense and Security of the RF FA Federation Council Viktor Bondarev has considered symbolic the opening of the statue, noting that it is a more vivid witness of centuries-old friendship between the two peoples.

During the last three years the RA NA deputy, the representative of the Russian community Aleksey Sandikov repeatedly voiced about the necessity of the opening of the monument. He expressed his gratitude to 90-year old sculptor Shavarsh Hovhannisyan for his creative mind and distinct reproduction of Pushkin’s character.

Afterwards, the pupils recited the famous poet’s works, and after that the attendees laid flowers at the monument of the well acclaimed poet.

As a token of the two peoples’ friendship, Hakob Arshakyan and Viktor Bondarev planted a tree on the territory adjacent to the monument.