Vardan Toganyan: "We promote comprehensive format of our country's presentation in Russia"

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Days of Armenian Culture will open in Russia on November 15. Different Russian cities will hold exhibitions, concerts and other events. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Russia, Vardan Toganyan, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza, said that Yerevan has attached great importance to the development of tourism in recent years:

"In this regard, a very favorable situation has developed in the relations between Armenia and Russia. The decision of the Russian government to allow Russians to travel with their internal passports contributed to the development of a tourist flow. For us, this is of great economic importance, since an appropriate infrastructure is being built up for the increased tourist flow - new hotels and jobs are being created. "

"Tourist trips are of great social importance - people learn more about the country, about traditions, about culture. All this gives an opportunity to present our country, our goods. We will move forward in this direction, creating special promotional programs, products for both Russian media and representatives of Russian tourism industry. In Russia, we promote a comprehensive format for the presentation of our country, our culture, hotels, individual projects, wineries, productions, using international exhibition sites in Russia. I mean light industry, food industry and other spheres," Toganian said.

At the multimedia conference, he also talked about holding the Days of Armenian Culture in Russia, which will be held until the end of the year. A series of activities will be opened by the exhibition of the famous Armenian artist Martiros Saryan in the Tretyakov Gallery, which will present Saryan's works of the early years from the artist's house-museum in Yerevan, the National Gallery of Armenia and the Tretyakov Gallery.

"We plan to hand over the bust of Marshal Baghramyan to the Victory Museum officially, which would be timed to the 120th anniversary of the marshal. There will be a concert by a pianist and composer Konstantin Orbelian and the State Youth Orchestra led by Sergei Smbatyan in the Great Hall of the Conservatory. The program was organized by Armenia's Ministry of Culture. Best Armenian opera singers who live and work in different countries, including Russia, will be invited. Russia's regions - Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Sochi, and Armavir will be able to watch performances by the Yerevan Stanislavski Russian Theatre and the State Dance Ensemble. The state variety symphonic orchestra, jazz orchestra already performed at the Moscow House of Music in late September. They will give several more concerts - on November 22 in Moscow and on November 24 in St. Petersburg. Our well-known compatriot Jivan Gasparyan will combine the variety ensemble and duduk in his performance. This is a new embodiment of creative ideas in Armenian ethno-jazz," Toganian said.

In addition, a chess tournament named after Tigran Petrosyan will be held among schoolchildren in Vladikavkaz, and an exhibition 'Faces of Armenia' - in Samara. "For us, these are not ordinary days of culture as a series of events, concerts, but an opportunity to show our country, our culture, our art in Russia as fully as possible," the ambassador said.