AN ORDEAL FOR THE DIASPORA REPRESENTATIVES DURING THE FESTIVAL

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[02:35 pm] 27 June, 2006

The PanArmenian second festival "One nation, one culture" initiated in
the sports-concert complex after Karen Demirchyan with the belief that
only the complex hall may hold all the participants of the festival
that have arrived with large delegations this year.

But many Diaspora representatives had to vacate their seats as they
were "occupied in advance" (though the entrance was free) and they
either took seats on the stairs or being offended missed the opening
ceremony.

As for the festival program the concert was over late at night with
firework. Then the fire brigades had to extinguish the burning electric
lamps which were set on fire as a result of the firework.

The festival continued in other regions of the republic the following
days as well. The most striking were the scenes in Tsaghkadzor and
in Sevan where all the participants were to be present and a fire of
union was to be lit. But the fire was not lit.

Besides, the concert ended just before it began because of the lack
of organization, sudden unexpected rain and severe cold.

As for the food they were certain problems on this score as well. The
participants got sandwiches with cheese and sausage only on the buses
on their return way. Prior to that, "Each person was to feed himself
the way he could," says one of the participants from Lebanon.

The same can be said about the hygienic state. Many people found the
existence of the lake even in such conditions great happiness. Three
members of the Russian chorus couldn’t get on busses and missed the
Tsaghkadzor concert and had to go to Sevan immediately.

By the way, each participant of the Russian delegation which is the
largest group this year took 2 – 3 friends or acquaintances with him
as a result of which the busses became overcrowded and this caused
extra problems for the initiators.

Nevertheless, the Diaspora representatives try to conceal their
displeasure and the drawbacks of the festival enjoying every ounce
of their stay in their homelands especially those who were in Armenia
for the first time.

They even put candles during their Echmiadzin visit wishing to return
to their homeland more frequently.

"We are very delighted to meet and get acquainted with our compatriots
from all angles of the world. This is an exclusive chance for us,"
says Eran Zeytuntsyan, an actress from Syria.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress