YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. By the RA government's decision, jubilees of a number of prominent Armenian artists, politicians, scientists will be marked at the state level in 2008, including the 100th anniversaries of world-famous astrophysicist Viktor Hambartsumian and classic of world literature William Saroyan, which are on the list of UNESCO 2008 jubilees. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by the Art Department of the RA Ministry of Culture, the following jubilees will be marked this year: the 125th anniversary of composer Romanos Melikian and the 100th anniversary of composer Nikoghos Nikoghosian, the 100th anniversary of architect Rafael Israyelian, the 80th anniversary of painter Minas Avetisian and the 125th anniversary of painter Hakob Kojoyan, the 150th anniversary of writer Shirvanzade, the 100th anniversary of writer William Saroyan, and the 70th anniversary of writer Mushegh Galshoyan, the 125th anniversary of state and military figure Drastamat Kanayan, the 100th anniversaries of scientists Viktor Hambartsumian and Artem Alikhanian, the 100th anniversary of Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I. Besides, the 50th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, the 75th anniversary of the Armenian Engineering University, the 50th anniversary of the Armenian State Dance Ensemble, and the 75th anniversary of A. Spendiarian National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet will be marked at the state level in 2008. According to the same source, besides the above mentioned jubilees, a number of jubilees will be marked at the departmental level in the current year.

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