Informational Letter

1. Themes to be addressed:
Faculty of Oriental Studies and Special Faculty of Oriental Studies of the Saint-Petersburg University and Fund of Oriental Cultures upon the cooperation and participation of the  New-Nakhichevan and Russian Eparchy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, General Consulate of Republic of Armenia in Saint-Petersburg, State Hermitage and the All Russian Social Alliance 典he Union of Armenians in Russia・are planning to hold an International Academic Conference from the 27th to the 29th of June 2001. We shall investigate the Armenian and Christian East as we approach the 1700 year anniversary of the christening of Armenia.
We hope to cover a wide spectrum of research that is currently being carried out by specialists of Armenia within academic institutions of Russia and from countries near and afar.
The papers are to be presented either in Russian or Western-European languages (mainly in English), and must not exceed 15 minutes so as to allow time for discussion.
Interest in Armenian studies is far from accidental. Armenian-Russian political, economic and cultural ties dictate a necessity to coordinate our efforts and to exchange experience and results of academic research.
This conference, without doubt, will serve to intensify and develop coordination among Oriental and Armenian Specialists from all over the world and these meetings shall become more regular.

2. During the conference we will discuss the following topics:
History, philosophy, culture, ethnography and linguistics of Armenia and its surrounding countries of the Christian Orient.

3. Format:
The program of the conference shall include plenary sessions academic papers, a press-conference, an exhibition and a cultural excursion.

4. Informational material:
Participants in the conference will be presented with a packet of informational material, including a program of the conference, a collection of the papers, a directory with  information about the participants, a booklet of the university痴  Armenian studies program, as well Arsen K. Shahinyan痴 monograph, 典he history of Armenian Studies in St. Petersburg University.・/font>
Preparation  for the conference and its results will be  put on the official web page of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the St. Petersburg State University and presented by the means of mass media.

5. Applications for participation and presentation of paper abstracts: We are accepting application forms not later than 15th of March, and paper abstracts 15th of May 2001.

The applications are to be completed in standard form by each participant (block letter). If  you are in need of an invitation letter so as to obtain a visa, include a copy of your passport. Paper abstracts are to be presented in the following format:

Title of the paper (block letter), Author (Full name)
Organization
City, Country
Contact telephone/ fax / E-mail

The abstracts should be in text file without gaps, paragraph indentations and other means of formatting. Paragraphs are to be separated with a blank line.
Applications and abstracts should be sent by e-mail. We will not accept materials by regular mail or fax.
All participants will receive a series of informational material. Stipends for participants: transportation fee for citizens of the Republic of Armenia and hotel expenses for those who are not residents of St. Petersburg.

6. Time and location:
Conference will be held from 27th of June till 29th of June year 2001
Place: St. Petersburg State University
Day of arrival, registration and hotel arrangements 26th of June (9.00-23.00) 27th of June (7.00-9.00)
Opening of Conference: 27th of June at 9.00
Closing of Conference: 29th of June at 21.00
Day of Departure: 30th of June

7. Contacts:
199034, St. Petersburg, Universitetskaya emb. 7/9
Tel / fax: +7 (812) 328-29-82
http://www.orient.pu.ru
E-mail: orient@vk4589.spb.edu
Vice-Head of the Organization Committee of Conference: Arsen K. Shahinyan