Discussion on Cultural Business On January 15, President Robert Kocharyan held a discussion on evaluation, import, and export of cultural values. The president issued a directive to simplify these actions as much as possible, reported Yerkir online on January 20.

For this reason, a working group was created of 7 people from relevant departments and ministries.

The said " We have to create an opportunity for free export and import of items that are of no cultural value for the country,"said Armen Avetisian, head of the Government-related State Committee on Customs. He also noted that it does not mean that they are ready to open the border and ignore any activities of export of such items. The head of the committee said that they would make a list of cultural values to be preserved by the state and not to be exported.

It was noted that 216 cultural values were exported and imported in 2003.

Saryan's book in Bulgaria. Bulgarian "Svyat-2001" publishing house has recently issued a Bulgarian-language collection of works of Armenian painter Martiros Saryan entitled "Sun Shines for All". The thoughts, impressions, opinions and criticism of literature, theater and music were translated into Bulgarian by Bulgarian-Armenian Hagop Ormandjiyan.

The basis of the collection, the Armenian language issue of "Sun Shines for All" was published by "Sovetakan Grogh" publishing house in 1996, by financial aid from Raffi and Gayane Yakhdjiyans from America. The Yakhdjiyans allotted pictures and materials from the book for the Bulgarian edited version of collected works of Saryan.

Again Aramo and Emma After many requests Aramo and Emma will repeat their joint concert from last November. This time they'll meet their fans in the Philharmonic Big Hall. The concert will take place on February 12 and will be devoted to the Armenian holiday of love of Saint Sargis.


New pop- star Mister X returned from the USA with wonderful impressions, writes abide.am. He had two live solo concerts in Welsher Ebel and Glendale's Alex theatres.

The first concert was recorded and released as a double CD, which will appear on sale in Armenia also in about a month. The second concert was recorded in DVD version and will as well appear first in USA and afterwards in Armenia.

On Yerevan Stages …


January 24 In Chamber Music Hall will be concert of "New Names" organization, which present talented children from different music schools of Armenia.

January 25 In National Opera and Ballet theatre will be performed Verdi "Troubadour" opera directed by tenor Gegham Grigoryan.