YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The annual general meeting of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) continued March 31–discussing the ways of leading Armenian science out its current state of crisis. Participating in the meeting were Prime Minister Aram Sargsyan–Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Armen Khachatrian–Primate of the Ararat diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church–Bishop Navasard Kchoyan and Minister of Education and Science Eduard Ghazarian.
Summarizing the results of the ANAS activities since the last annual meeting–ANAS President Fadey Sargssian pointed out that despite heavy conditions–a number of issues were settled including development of the academic information network–ensuring of activities of research institutes–development of international relations–and participation in prestigious international contests. The main task was retaining research potential. The meeting participants stressed the necessity for a cardinal change in the government’s scientific policy.
In his summary report–Academician-Secretary of the ANAS Presidium Vladimir Barkhoudarian presented the achievemen’s of 41 research subdivisions of the ANAS as well as organizational work. According to the data contained in the report–1999 saw an intensive exchange of scientist; 296 Armenian scientists went on business abroad–and 268 foreign researchers arrived in Armenia.
Armenian scientists also took an active part in different international scientific events. In particular–the ANAS president participated in the work of the regular General Assembly of the International Council of the Scientific Unions of Egypt–as well as in the general meeting of the British Royal Society. ANAS Vice-President Yuri Shukurian participated in the NATO joint meeting as co-chairman.
ANAS scientists carried out research on over 40 gran’s issued by international organizations and funds such as NATO–INTAS–and American Civil Research & Development Fund. Currently–ANAS has 106 academicians. The ANAS staff consists of 4,697 persons–2,516 of them being research workers.