A regular cultural diplomacy event organized by the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs took place, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the Byurakan Observatory named after Victor Hambardzumyan and the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of the First Byurakan Tour photos of the Byurakan Observatory in the UNESCO “Memory of the World” register.

The event, which was organized in cooperation with the observatory, was attended by ambassadors accredited to the Republic of Armenia, diplomats of international organizations and different countries.

General Secretary of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs Davit Karapetyan and Director of the Byurakan Observatory Areg Mikayelyan gave a speech of welcome. Davit Karapetyan noted in his speech that the above-mentioned anniversaries not only emphasize Armenia’s outstanding achievements in the field of astronomy and scientific discoveries, but also document a legacy that crossed national borders, contributing to the enrichment of the collective knowledge and cultural heritage of mankind.

The Secretary General emphasized the role of the Byurakan Observatory as a symbol of Armenian scientific thought and achievements, and noted that the discoveries made in the observatory from the very first years of its establishment transformed our understanding of the universe and made a significant contribution to the development of astronomy.

During the event, the guests took a tour of the observatory, getting acquainted with its history, scientific achievements and astronomical research. The participants visited Viktor Hambardzumyan’s house-museum, telescopes, got acquainted with the observatory’s activities and observation instruments, as well as Armenia’s involvement and initiatives in promoting international scientific cooperation in the field of astronomy.

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