YEREVAN. – Russia helped to purchase several new telescopes for the Byurakan Observatory.

“This year we are going to buy large telescopes. The telescopes have been imported to Armenia. Some of them have been installed, while the rest will be placed in the near future,” Arthur Baghdasaryan, Secretary of National Security Council, told reporters.

A delegation of the Russian federal space agency headed by Oleg Ostapenko will travel to Armenia soon. During the meetings, creation of a joint venture “ArmRoskosmos” on the basis of the Byurakan Observatory will be discussed.

Modernization of the observatory continues, Baghdasaryan said, adding that last year’s technical assistance amounted to around 5 million euros.

Besides, with the support of the Russian Federation, modernization of geophysical observatory in Garni will be completed in 2014.