ARMENIA MARKED 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF SPITAK EARTHQUAKE

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.12.2008 13:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On December 7, Armenia marked the 20th anniversary
of the devastating 1988 earthquake that leveled the towns of Spitak
and Gyumri and left 25 000 people dead, 100 000 wounded and 500
000 homeless.

President Serzh Sargsyan, former President Robert Kocharian, member
of Russia’s Federation Council and co-chair of the Armenia-Russian
committee on interparliamentary cooperation Nikolay Ryzhkov unveiled
a monument to the victims in the northern town of Gyumri.

"Today, we are unveiling a memorial to innocent victims. This monument
is symbolizing the best human features: philanthropy and the ability
to extend a helping hand. The Armenian people will never forget
it. This monument shows vulnerability of people on the one hand,
and the capability to resist the disaster, on the other hand. It
combines pain and belief," President Sargsyan said during the ceremony.

A liturgy in commemoration of the innocent victims was also chanted
in Gyumri.