SERZH SARGSYAN: VENICE WAS THE CRADLE OF ARMENIAN PRINTING
armradio.am
15.12.2011 12:36
President Serzh Sargsyan hosted an official dinner in Venice,
featuring Armenologists from different countries of the world and
representatives of the local authorities, who participated in the
opening of the “Armenia: Signs of Civilization” exhibition.
“I’m glad to be here to mark the start of the events dedicated to
the 500th anniversary of Armenian printing. It’s not by accident
that the jubilee events start from Venice. It’s not by accident,
because Venice is the cradle of Armenian printing, where the first
Armenian printed book – Hakob Meghapart’s Urbatagirk – was published,”
President Serzh Sargsyan said in his speech.
“Today we launched the “Armenia: Signs of Civilization” exhibition,
which presents more than 200 rare manuscripts, ancient books,
mosaics, cross-stones, carpets, maps and other items of our rich
heritage brought from Armenian and European museums,” the President
said. He expressed gratitude to the authorities of friendly Italy
for supporting the initiative.
“We are proud of our historic contacts with Italy and the
success achieved in the bilateral relations during the 20 years of
independence. At the same time, we would like the Armenian-Italian
cooperation to have more glorious pages in the future,” Serzh
Sargsyan said.
President Sargsyan reminded that UNESCO has named Yerevan World Book
Capital 2012 and invited all attendees to visit Armenia to participate
in the events to be organized within that framework.
From: Baghdasarian