YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by Valentina Matvienko, St Petersburg Governor, that arrived in Yerevan on the occasion of the Year of Russia in Armenia, donated works of 24 Russian painters to the Armenian National Gallery. Valentina Matvienko declared this at the opening of the exhibition of these works on September 14 at the gallery. Mrs Matvienko expressed hope that these works will find their deserved place in gallery's department of Russian painters. She also mentioned that many Armenian painters got education at St Petersburg Academy of Art and were fostered by the traditions of Russian painting. According to Mrs Matvienko, the first Armenians settled in St Petersburg already since 1708 (St Petersburg was founded in 1703) and had an impact on city's establishment and development with their practical, scientific and cultural activity. In the affirmation of Gagik Gyurjian, RA Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth ASffairs, this visit will become a kind of a bridge restoring the traditional scientific-cultural and educational cooperation already formed between the 2 peoples. "Last I was in Armenia 18 years ago. We arrived at night but it was pleasant to see that the city was illuminated, of course, it wasn't so light as in New York and there is no such need. Yerevan is Yerevan with its peculiar attraction, its mystery and secrets," V.Burov, Chairman of St Petersburg Committee of Culture, mentioned.

---