Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) has again hosted Vladimir Harutyunyan, a Russia-based Armenian intellectual and philanthropist, Chairman of AVA Group of
Companies Oil & Gas Projects and a friend of the University.
APSU Rector, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Rouben Mirzakhanyan, handed over the Honorary Doctor of the University [Vladimir Harutyunyan] a gold-plated medal symbolizing the 90th anniversary of the University. The Chairman of AVA Group of Companies Oil & Gas Projects thanked Mr Mirzakhanyan for the award.
“I am grateful to everyone. It is a great honour for me to receive this medal that symbolizes the anniversary of the Pedagogical University. The blood of the Armenians will never change, wherever they be. Though I am not speaking in the Armenian language, which is only through my fault, I must confess that I am a genuine Armenian,” said Vladimir Harutyunyan.
The businessman and philanthropist had already been at the Pedagogical University at the invitation of the University and delivered a lecture on “Russia: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”
This time, he again expressed a desire to address the audience of the University in the near future.
Accompanied by the University Rector, Vladimir Harutyunyan toured the University building and visited the newly opened museum of the University.
Vladimir Harutyunyan’s ancestry goes back to Western Armenia. He was born in Russia where he held high and responsible positions. He has undertaken numerous charitable initiatives in Armenia. The medieval monastery of Kecharis was renovated thanks to his generous donations.
After graduating from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1961, Vladimir Harutyunyan began to work at
the Ministry of Foreign Trade of the USSR, in All-Union foreign-trade association " Soyuzneftexport." In 1965-1971, he was Director General of London-based "Nafta" Joint-Stock Company. In 1981-1986, he was Vice-President of “Soyuzneftexport" and in 1986-1992 he already headed the huge structure.
In 1992-1995, Vladimir Harutyunyan was Senior Adviser to the President of Association of Austrian Industrialists. He has been heading AVA Group of Companies Oil & Gas Projects since 1996.
