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On March 27 on the occasion of the World Theatre Day for significant contribution in the sphere of culture the RA National Assembly President Hovik Abrahamyan awarded with the NA Medals of Honour more than a dozen of figures of the sphere – Varduhi Varderesyan, Yervand Ghazanchyan, Leyli Khachatryan, Margo Muradyan, Evelina Shahiryan, Alexander Grigoryan, Kamo Hovhannisyan, Silva Yuzbashyan, Barsegh Tumanyan, Geghanush Sayadyan. About fifty performing arts figures were awarded NA President’s diplomas and letters of acknowledgement. Congratulating the awarded, the NA President Hovik Abrahamyan noted:

“Devotees, friends of Armenian Theatre,

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

Let me greet you in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and heartily congratulate you on your professional holiday, World Theater Day.

Respectable representatives of Armenian Theatre, in the years of independence our people have overcome scores of vital difficulties and you have been next to them. With your services and devotion rendered to Armenian Theatre you have done everything in order to continue and develop the Armenian stage art and transfer to generations. Today, we should think about the active development of theatre, one of the biggest cultural values of our people, as it is the most important factor of self-affirmation and self-manifestation. As one of the greatest cultural figures has said, the ultimate goal of art is to drive people to do what they need and realize what they know.

Theatre is a sincere dialogue with spectator, hence it will always remain topical, and I am sure it will preserve the traditions created by Vahram Papazyan, Vardan Achemyan, Hrachya Nersisyan, Vagharsh Vagharshyan, Avet Avetisyan, Petros Adamyan, Hovhannes Abelyan, Siranuish, Arus Voskanyan and other deserved performers of our theatre.

They say theatre is a temple of art. More than 2000 years of history of our theatre testifies to the fact we keep that temple with care. It is a national cultural value for us, one of the talking visit cards from the Artashat stage up to present mother theatre.

Dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, modern Armenian performing arts develop and certainly continue the rich traditions of Armenian theatre. And thanks to all those, who build today’s pages of that history: from the stage director up to actor, from the make-up person up to painter, every employee of the service crew, because what is visible on the stage is also created with invisible efforts of many people.

In our times the society needs more tolerance and kindness, and the very theatre makes a man more sincere, more human and richer inside. With this respect I highly appreciate the role of theatre in social life, because it is one of the most important factors of people’s spiritual and moral upbringing. Supporting the theatre, re-evaluating the theatre our cultural heritage, with that each of us support the reinforcement of people’s moral spirit and having more healthy society.

Dear friends, I am thankful for your devotion, for your work done, which is directed to make the society and the world more tolerant, kinder and more human.

Once again I congratulate you on the professional holiday, I congratulate all the awarded artists and wish them health, limitless energy, new creative intentions and achievements, and let your services rendered to stage art be always highly appreciated.”

Performing arts figures addressed the words of their gratitude to the RA NA President for high appraisal and consistent caring attitude towards theatre. The RA People’s Artist Yervand Ghazanchyan in his turn congratulated the NA President on World Theatre Day, noting that Hovik Abrahamyan is the first state statesman who sixteen years ago was awarded Artavazd prize of the Union of Theatre Figures. Thanking the NA President in the name of those present Yervand Ghazanchyan noted that they had always felt his caring attitude.

Hovik Abrahamyan has informed those present that Sos Sargsyan has also been awarded the NA Medal of Honour, who due to health problems is not attending the awarding ceremony. The NA President has noted that he will visit him and personally congratulate the Master and bestow the medal.

The NA Vice Presidents Eduard Sharmazanov and Hermine Naghdalyan, the Chairs of the standing committees of the parliament, deputies and the RA Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan were attending the solemn awarding ceremony.