Prof. Vahe G. Gurzadyan
Cosmology Group
Yerevan Physics Institute

Armenian participation to the ICRA Network is represented by the Cosmology Group at the Yerevan Physics Institute. Their activity includes many year experience in space astronomy, nonlinear problems of astrophysics and cosmology. The researchers have been in many year collaboration with ICRA and the Department of Physics in University of Rome "La Sapienza".

The recent approval by the Chamber of Deputies, with 392 favourable votes out of 392 Members of Parliament present to the vote, successfully concluded the parliamentary ratification procedure concerning ICRANet institutive Agreement in Pescara.

ICRANet recognizes the Armenian Republic, Italy, the Vatican City, ICRA and some prestigious scientific institutions of the United States, as founder members of a new international organisation entirely intended for the structure and evolution study of our Universe, on the bases of Albert Einstein's theories. The above-mentioned agreement became effective in year 2005, the Physics world year. Such a coincidence is highly significant: in 2005 the centenary of the annus mirabilis in which Einstein revolutionised the world of physics, with five main works, has been celebrated.

The initial choice of Armenia as one of ICRANet founder members has been motivated by three essential factors: the prevalent scientific level reached by Armenia in the Astronomy field during the past century in the Soviet Union, the many existent contacts within ICRA and the Armenian scientists, the deep political, religious and cultural relations in common between Italy and Armenia.

The founder of the modern school of Astronomy in Armenia and, in some way in the Soviet Union, is Prof. Victor Ambarstumian. The importance of his role in creating the assumptions for Armenia scientific development has been recognised by placing his image on the 100-dram bill.

Collaborations with ICRA are well represented by the scientific works carried out by Prof. Vahe Gurzadyan's group. Prof. Gurzadyan also led to the publications of the following volumes:

• The Chaotic Universe
• 3 MG X volumes
• Fermi and astrophysics 

Relations between Armenia and Italy have lasted since ancient times: an important evidence of this is given by the crowning of King Tiridate I of Armenia, in 66 d.C. in Rome by Nero.

In 301 the King of Armenia Tiridate III proclaimed the Christian faith as established religion.

In the following period, Marco Polo visited Armenia.

From 1600 to 1945 the Kings of the Savoy were proclaimed Kings of Cyprus, Jerusalem and Armenia.

Nowadays, in Saint Lazarus' isle, Venice, there is a crowded community of Armenian monks.

It is important to notice that in 2001 Pope John Paul II went to Armenia to celebrate the anniversary of the conversion to Christianity.

ICRANet activity can play a strategic role in the relations between Armenia, Italy and the Vatican, especially if we think about the fundamental importance of the Middle-East area. These activities in the scientific field will be complementary to those in the political, economical and cultural fields, where Armenia is assuming a position of stabilization and guide of its region, meeting therefore the European Community wishes.