At last the most prominent Armenian pianist, prize-winner of numerous prestigious international piano competitions Armen Babakhanian by the decree of Serj Sargsyan, the President of Armenia, was awarded high title of Merited Artist of Armenia on the 26th May 2008. It is rather positive sign of the new President's good taste and objective attitude to the big artist. The previous president had ignored achievements of the owner of the biggest bunch of international competition prizes ever collected by an Armenian musician within the 20th Century