ARMENIA REMEMBERS 1988 QUAKE VICTIMS
By Satenik Vantsian in Gyumri

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep
Dec 7 2006

President Robert Kocharian led on Thursday low-key official
commemorations of the 18th anniversary of a powerful earthquake that
killed some 25,000 people and devastated much of northwestern Armenia.

The main official ceremony took place in the country’s second largest
city of Gyumri where thousands of people continue to huddle in
temporary shelters despite considerable reconstruction carried out
in recent years. Kocharian and local government officials observed
a minute of silence by a memorial to earthquake victims before an
open-air liturgy was served by representatives of the local diocese
of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Kocharian was confronted after the religious service by scores of
local women with a litany of grievances, most of them relating to
their wretched housing conditions. His bodyguards were at pains to
hold back the crowd.

"I have supported a disabled child for 18 years, it’s impossible to
continue like this," a middle-aged pleaded with Kocharian.

"Mr. Kocharian, please help us solve the problem of our hostel,"
screamed another woman who claimed to be facing eviction from a
ramshackle building that houses dozens of impoverished families.

Kocharian promised to address the complaints as he left the square
to inspect the new building of the Gyumri mayor’s office which is
currently under construction. He also pointed to the scale of mostly
Diaspora-funded construction work that has been carried out in the
town and the broader earthquake zone since the late 1990s.

According to the local authorities, at least 2,000 Gyumri families
still lack decent housing despite past government pledges to completely
rebuild the area by 2002. Unofficial estimates of the number of such
people are much higher.

The Armenian government did not finance construction of new homes in
the earthquake zone this year and is unlikely to do so in 2007. It
is due to spend instead 700 million drams ($1.9 million) on buying
new apartments for over 300 Gyumri families.

Kocharian discussed the matter at a two-hour meeting with senior
officials from the municipal and regional administrations. His planned
news conference was cancelled for unknown reasons. The Armenian leader
likewise avoided any contact with local reporters during his previous
December 7 visit to Gyumri.