Serzh Sargsyan: V. Hambartsumyan’s image encouraged many Armenian young people
On September 17, President Serzh Sargsyan awarded Viktor Hambartsumyan International Prize 2010 in astronomy/astrophysics and related sciences to famous Swiss astrophysicist professor Michel Mayor and two of his team members Garik Israelian and Nuno Santos at a National Academy of Sciences special general meeting.
During the prize award ceremony, President Sargsyan, particularly, said:
“It is an honor for me to award Viktor Hambartsumyan International Prize. It is a new phenomenon in our life testifying to our interest in astronomy/astrophysics and related sciences and to the importance of these achievements in our public consciousness and public opinion. This opinion and consciousness were formed by famous astronomer Viktor Hambartsumyan with his Observatory and the school he founded. His image encouraged many Armenian young people, and they chose the profession of an astronomer and astrophysicist making progress in the international sphere.
My congratulations to the prize-winners! I wish them success and new scientific discoveries.
Everybody looks to the sky, but there are people who see much more than we when looking to the sky. Today, in this hall, we congratulate and honor them - Swiss astrophysicist professor Michel Mayor and his team members, who saw and told the world what no one had seen before.
Many thanks to the organizers of the competition and to the members of the commission.
My congratulations to all of us on this occasion!”