“Honorable President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia,
Honorable Victor Hambardzumyan International Prize Winners,
Dear Scientists and Guests,
It is the fourth time that Armenia makes itself known by awarding one of the world’s most prominent scientific awards – the Academician Victor Hambardzumyan International Scientific Award. In this way, we are paying tribute to the world’s greatest scientists.
As a leader of the country and as a simple Armenian, I have a great honor and pleasure to be a participant of this event. We are fully aware of the importance of upholding the award’s reputation. Its value is made up of the scientific community, the names of prominent scientists who will become laureates and will occupy their worthy place next to Victor Hambardzumyan’s glorious name. The more qualified are the prize winners, the higher his reputation will be. The scientific expertise of the presented works is entirely entrusted to the International Commission, whose members are world-famous and at the same time very impartial scientists whose decision depends on the choice of the winners of the year and the further strengthening of the award’s reputation.
It is enough to say that the Commission consists of Nobel Prize winners, the previous two presidents of the International Astronomical Union and a number of other well-known astronomers. I recently read a publication in Russian press stating that Victor Hambardzumyan’s prize stood for the Nobel Prize in astrophysics. I think this is a very important and precise definition.
Victor Hambardzumyan was devoted to real science. His inexhaustible diligence was added to his genius, and thanks to the harmonious combination of these two factors, the glory of Byurakan Observatory created by him soon spread all over the world, while astrophysics and accurate sciences boasted a sharp rise in Armenia.
Many keep asking how come a small country like Armenia has set such a great scientific award. Being a newly independent state, Armenia continues to attach great importance to the development of science and has its own place among the leading countries.
Together with this, we understand that there is still much to do in our country for scientists’ the effective work in terms of ensuring a dignified life for them, supplying research centers with modern equipment, training qualified specialists and, in general, developing fundamental research in our country.
As the head of the country, I will try to foster respect and appreciation for science and scientists in Armenia. Let me mention that in order to increase the amount of trust in the prize, all the costs associated with ...
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