The presentation of the French book 12 Capitals of Armenia (Les douze capitals d'Armenie) took place today at the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences.  The editors of the book are French-Armenian mathematician and historian Claude-Armen Mutafyan and his friend French-Armenian art expert Patrick Tonapetyan.  Each chapter, dedicated to one of Armenia's capitals, has been authored by at least one contributor, with more than 20 contributors overall, both from Armenia and France. The book features more than 400 color photographs, illustrations and documents.  Most of the photographs are the work of two people – Zaven Sargsyan and Canadian-Armenia Hrair Hawk Khatcherian.  The work of the contributors was coordinated by archeologist Nvard Tiratsyan. 12 Capitals of Armenia is not an academic work; it is meant for a wide audience.  It features Armenia's 12 royal capitals, from Van through Ani to Sis, but also includes the republican capitals of Yerevan and Stepanakert.  "All the capitals of Armenia are included in the book, but it also features some 'secondary capitals.'  These were not capitals of Armenia, but they were Armenian capitals – like Aghtamar, Lori, Ghapan, Pharisos and others.  You cannot have a book without Aghtamar, but it was never a capital of Armenia.  It was the Armenian capital of Vaspurakan," said Claude-Armen Mutafyan.