YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–"Culture in Russia is not developing in full volumes as no law on patronage of art has yet been adopted," Russia’s Minister of Culture Vladimir Yegorov–who led the Russian delegation of cultural workers visiting Armenia–told journalists on October 22. Nevertheless–according to the minister–"despite the absence of law–today there are many educated people who continue to patronize culture."
Honored Art Worker of Russia–Academician of the Russian Television Academy "Teffi"–member of the jury of the "Golden Mask" Theater Festival Svyatoslav Belza expressed the opinion that Russian provincial theaters present much more interesting plays than the theaters of the capital. According to him–during the latest festival three "Golden Masks" went to the theater of Omsk – for Kobo Abe’s "Women in Sands" play. "One should not forget that it is the province that feeds the metropolitan culture," the academician said.
Popular actor Vasiliy Lanavoy thinks that "cinema is Russia’s field that has sustained the greatest losses."
"The wide screen film industry has totally disappeared," Lanavoy said. "Anyone who had money became film directors over the past years. Films are shot by people who must never be allowed to approach film-making," he said. According to the actor–half of the money spent on film production in Russia is allocated by the state–the rest is obtained thanks to sponsors.
11. Armenia-Lebanon Forum Reaches Concrete Agreemen’s
YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The Armenia-Lebanon Forum has reached concrete agreemen’s concerning the six proposals made by the Armenian side. Minister of Economy Armen Darbinian–presenting the results of the forum–assured journalists that he would personally oversee the implementation of these programs. Darbinian also said that numerous issues of activation of interstate economic relations had been discussed with Minister of Economy and Trade of Lebanon Nessar Saidi.
According to Saidi–both countries may serve as a window for organizing of trade in their regions. Jacques Saraf–a representative of the Association of Manufacturers of Lebanon–said that concrete agreemen’s had been reached during the Forum. There are also plans to set up the production of goods of domestic chemistry and jewelry in Armenia.
Chairman of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia Aram Vardanian stressed the importance of establishing a venture fund. At the same time–it was pointed out that the regime of the free trade zone will be applied to some types of commodities–whose list is now being specified.
Armenia-Lebanon relations are entering a new–more businessline period of development–President Robert Kocharian said during his meeting with a delegation led by Lebanon’s Minister of Economy and Trade Nessar Saidi. Nessar Saidi forwarded a message of President of Lebanon Emil Lahoud. The leader of Lebanon expresses confidence that the upcoming official visit of Robert Kocharian to Lebanon will give a fresh impetus to relations between the two countries.
Robert Kocharian said that warm–friendly relations existing between the two nations create a good basis for effective cooperation. According to the president–there are vast prospects and great potential for bilateral economic ties and it is possible to achieve positive results through properly utilizing them. At the same time–he emphasized that relations between the two countries should also be strengthened at the expense of the concrete economic ties reached during the business forum.
Speaking of the role of the Armenia-Lebanon Business Forum,. Saidi said that Lebanon may serve as a gate to the Arabic countries for Armenia and Armenia–in turn–may become a bridge linking Lebanon to the post-Soviet countries.
The sides also said that the Armenian community of Lebanon may become a bridge in developing bilateral relations. Saidi highly appreciated the role of the Armenian community of Lebanon in the political–economic and cultural life of the country.