YEREVAN, JULY 1, ARMENPESS. The Observatory of Byurakan named after V. Hambardzumyan and owned by the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia has been made a regional center of astronomy by a decision of the International Astronomical Union. As sources from the Information and Research Center at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia told Armenpress, the Observatory has also been included in the CIS program of innovative cooperation. Due to a change of status, it was decided at a meeting of the board of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia held on July 1 to prepare a strategy for the Observatory and to reform its management.