YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. A commission was set up to choose a new text and music of the anthem of the Republic of Armenia. The RA Minister of Culture and Youth Issues Gevorg Gevorgian approved the commission membership. According to the ministry's press service, Gevorg Gevorgian was appointed the commission chairman, and the Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Issues Karine Khodikian - deputy chairwoman of the commission. The commission is composed of the following members: Assistant to the RA President V. Sargsian, Assistant to the RA Prime Minister K. Avagian, National Assembly deputies A. Malkhasian (Repulican Party of Armenia), G. Arsenian (United Labor Party), R. Hovsepian (ARF) and M. Minasian (People's Deputy), Deputy Director of the MFA State Ceremony Service Agency V. Charakhchian, Head of the Comprehensive Education Department of the RA Ministry of Education and Science N. Hovhannisian, Director of the Institute of Art of the National Academy of Sciences A. Aghasian, Deputy Director of the same institute A. Asatrian, poetess S. Kaputikian, poet D. Hovhannes, members of the Union of Composers and Musicologists of Armenia, musicologists M. Israelian and M. Navoyan, Professor of Yerevan State Conservatory after Komitas, conductor D. Ghazarian, poet R. Davoyan, composer E. Mirzoyan, Artsistic Director of the Chamber Orchestra of Armenia A. Gharabekian, Artistic Director of State Academic Chorus H. Chekijian and Executive Director of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund N. Melkumian. The commission held its first working meeting on May 17, during which the work schedule was clarified, as well as issues related to development of terms and criteria of the competition to choose the music and text of the RA anthem were discussed. The competition terms will be approved and made public at the next meeting of the commission.

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