PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN IN GYUMRI TO PAY HOMAGE TO THE MEMORY OF EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

armradio.am
07.12.2007 16:55

RA President Robert Kocharyan today visited Gyumri to pay homage to
the memory of the victims of the devastating earthquake of 1988. The
President laid flowers at the memorial to the earthquake victims
placed in front of the St. Savior Church. Head of the Shirak Diocese
of the Armenian Apostolic Church Michael Bishop Ajapahyan served a
Requiem Service.

President Kocharyan was accompanied by RA Deputy Prime Minister
Hovik Abrahamyan, Shirak Marzpet Lida Nanyan, and the Mayor of Gyumri
Vardan Ghukasyan. Mr. Kocharyan talked to the people of Gyumri and
familiarized with their problems.

According to Marzpet Lida Nanyan, the problems of shelter and
unemployment are the most urgent in the region. Four thousand people
in Gyumri still have no shelter. However, she noted that the issue
of house-building is in the core of the Government’s attention.

The St. Savior Church of Gyumri was also destroyed in 1988. It
is being reconstructed with full maintenance of the architectural
appearance. The reconstruction will be completed by 2009.

Let us remind that November 23 RA President Robert Kocharyan signed
a decree on forming as state commission to organize the arrangements
dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the earthquake that took place
in Armenia on December 7, 1988.

The state commission has been instructed to confirm the list of
events of the 20th anniversary of the earthquake before January 15,
2008. The Government has been instructed to ensure the financing and
implementation of the program.