Armenian cultural days held in Belgian Antwerp

ARMENIAN CULTURAL DAYS HELD IN BELGIAN ANTWERP

ArmenPress
Sept 29 2004

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: On the initiation of Armenian
cultural center Nuart, Armenian cultural days were held in Belgian
Antwerp from Sept 16 to 22 dedicated to the day of independence in
Armenia, Armenian culture and youth affairs ministry publishing agency
head Eduard Militonian told Armenpress.

In his words, singers from Armenia performed for Belgian public as
well as Armenian, Belgian and Check groups from Antwerp came up with
their national dances. A newly established non-profit organization
in Antwerp, Kenats Tun, presented samples of carpets and applied
art in their building. Recently published books in Armenia were
exhibited in Antwerp university. Some 150 exhibited books together
with Militonian’s personal contribution of 200 books were donated
to the library of Nuart cultural center library. Near a cross-stone
symbolizing Armenian-Belgian friendship, a singer Sofi performed
Armenian medieval songs.

In E. Militonian terms, organization of such evens is imported for
poorly organized Armenian community in Belgium for preservation of
Armenian identity and national self-consciousness. He also noted that
it was the first ever such big event organized in that community and
the organizers try to make it annual.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS