Sargsyan: Armenia and Russia have always been together - in  peacetime, and in the years of hard trials

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.