Updates
Statements and messages of the President of RA
07
12, 2008
Speech by President Serzh Sargsyan on occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Spitak earthquake
Your Holiness,
Distinguished Mr. Kocharyan,
Dear compatriots,
Dear guests,
Today is the 20th anniversary of the worst natural disaster in our contemporary history, the catastrophic Spitak earthquake. This disaster that brought loss and tragic pain from the earthquake epicenter in Shirakamut echoed in the heart of every single human being, and united the entire mankind under the slogan, “For you, Armenia” regardless of geographic distance, despite realities of the Cold War, ideological and political views.
It is hard to verbally convey the pain and grief we experienced. The blind elements of nature destroyed our towns and villages in a matter of minutes, claimed tens of thousands of human lives, and left hundreds of thousands homeless. For years, the northern part of this country has been called “disaster area”.
Presently, we honor the memory of our brothers and sisters who perished in that disaster, we solace and encourage all those who survived those days in December 1988, and whose dear ones were killed by the terrible calamity.
The tragedy is twice as hard when one has to face it alone. However, from the very first days of the disastrous earthquake this nation felt the warmth of human soul and the spirit of friendship. The world shared our grief.
It is impossible to forget the charitable street concerts performed by Belgian children, the disrupted humanitarian flight of the Yugoslavian pilots, the rescuers and builders from Russia, Ukraine and Georgia, the commitment of Charles Aznavour, Mother Theresa, Nikolay Ryzhkov, Pope John Paul II, Kirk Kerkorian, John Huntsman, Alec Manukian and many, many others. The republics of the USSR, France, China, the USA, Italy, Norway, Iran, Czechoslovakia, and dozens of other countries as well as scores of international and Armenian charitable organizations stood by injured Armenia. This nation shall always remember Jacques Chirac, Francoise Mitterrand, Margaret Thatcher, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and many other statesmen, as well as the French senators, the Kennedy and Bush families, world-famous singers and musicians, and many others.
From the very outset of the earthquake, the world turned its humane glance at our tragedy proving once again that there is no such thing as someone else’s pain, someone else’s grief. In those hard days, the word “charity” found its true meaning and address in this country.
Today it is once again our duty to remember with gratitude all the rescuers and builders, pilots and statesmen, food and water suppliers, and the providers of tents and blankets. Everybody. People came to Armenia to become our cohorts, to encourage us, to inspire hope and faith, and simply not to abandon us alone face to face with our deep pain.
And today we say to everybody: THANK YOU.
Today we inaugurate a monument whose meaning is briefly expressed as follows: “For the innocent victims and compassionate hearts”. This monument created by the worthy offspring of Gyumri, Frid Soghoyan and his sons is a singular symbol of the best human properties: the readiness to lend a helping hand in a time of tragedy, and humanism.
The Armenian people has highly appreciated these human properties, not least by means of this monument, which on the one hand expresses human vulnerability, and on the other hand, the ability to withstand the disaster. It combines the pain of loss and the confidence in rebirth.
I thank all those who participated in the creation of the monument from the idea to materialization. First of all, the dear master Frid Soghoyan. Special gratitude goes to Nikolay Ryzhkov who pioneered this idea, who has been continuing his great mission 20 years after the earthquake and from yesterday he is wearing the highest rank of this country – that of the National Hero of Armenia.
Compatriots,
Over the past years, we have been learning the lessons of the disastrous earthquake. We have also managed to solve numerous problems. Under the immediate leadership of President Kocharian, large-scale work was carried out; it became possible to overcome hopelessness; the living conditions of thousands of families have been improved. Numerous schools, kindergartens, healthcare and cultural facilities have been built. However, we haven’t managed to completely eradicate the consequences of the disaster. Moreover, currently, we face the problem of rapid development. Today we must be able to match the rate of development in Lori, Shirak, Tavush and other provinces with that of Yerevan. We are going to solve these problems together.
In matter of few years, we will be able to entirely overcome all the consequences of the disaster. When I say “entirely” I mean there will be no people left homeless as a result of the earthquake; regular and continuously improving living conditions will be restored. We promised this and we shall do it: we’ll achieve this despite the global economic crisis, despite the existing obstacles.
However, the most important thing is to cure the wounds in the souls of the people who survived the 1988 disaster: something that begins with the first cry the newborn and the noise of running children. Several months ago I promised to all of you that Gyumri shall be transformed into the Northern capital of Armenia. Gyumri must be given an opportunity to become a center hosting the Pan-Armenian games, Armenia-Diaspora forums, a venue for large international meetings, a capital of sports and art by revisiting its past vivacity. And that’s how it is to be.
My request is clear: to proactively perform the work in this domain. I demand not only statistical data but changes in the working environment, atmosphere and style.
I won’t consider the problem solved until the last family that suffered from the earthquake, the last homeless citizen is provided with apartment and worthy living conditions.
Twenty years ago, “For you, Armenia” was a universal slogan, which nowadays has been filled with a new meaning for all of us, and is perceived as a call for self-denying service to the Fatherland and our people.
This slogan becomes more inspiring with every housewarming, every new commissioned school thanks to the work of every Armenian
In the name of Spitak and Gyumri,
In the name of Shirakamut and Vanadzor,
In the name of our people
And in the name of Armenia’s empowerment.
Distinguished Mr. Kocharyan,
Dear compatriots,
Dear guests,
Today is the 20th anniversary of the worst natural disaster in our contemporary history, the catastrophic Spitak earthquake. This disaster that brought loss and tragic pain from the earthquake epicenter in Shirakamut echoed in the heart of every single human being, and united the entire mankind under the slogan, “For you, Armenia” regardless of geographic distance, despite realities of the Cold War, ideological and political views.
It is hard to verbally convey the pain and grief we experienced. The blind elements of nature destroyed our towns and villages in a matter of minutes, claimed tens of thousands of human lives, and left hundreds of thousands homeless. For years, the northern part of this country has been called “disaster area”.
Presently, we honor the memory of our brothers and sisters who perished in that disaster, we solace and encourage all those who survived those days in December 1988, and whose dear ones were killed by the terrible calamity.
The tragedy is twice as hard when one has to face it alone. However, from the very first days of the disastrous earthquake this nation felt the warmth of human soul and the spirit of friendship. The world shared our grief.
It is impossible to forget the charitable street concerts performed by Belgian children, the disrupted humanitarian flight of the Yugoslavian pilots, the rescuers and builders from Russia, Ukraine and Georgia, the commitment of Charles Aznavour, Mother Theresa, Nikolay Ryzhkov, Pope John Paul II, Kirk Kerkorian, John Huntsman, Alec Manukian and many, many others. The republics of the USSR, France, China, the USA, Italy, Norway, Iran, Czechoslovakia, and dozens of other countries as well as scores of international and Armenian charitable organizations stood by injured Armenia. This nation shall always remember Jacques Chirac, Francoise Mitterrand, Margaret Thatcher, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and many other statesmen, as well as the French senators, the Kennedy and Bush families, world-famous singers and musicians, and many others.
From the very outset of the earthquake, the world turned its humane glance at our tragedy proving once again that there is no such thing as someone else’s pain, someone else’s grief. In those hard days, the word “charity” found its true meaning and address in this country.
Today it is once again our duty to remember with gratitude all the rescuers and builders, pilots and statesmen, food and water suppliers, and the providers of tents and blankets. Everybody. People came to Armenia to become our cohorts, to encourage us, to inspire hope and faith, and simply not to abandon us alone face to face with our deep pain.
And today we say to everybody: THANK YOU.
Today we inaugurate a monument whose meaning is briefly expressed as follows: “For the innocent victims and compassionate hearts”. This monument created by the worthy offspring of Gyumri, Frid Soghoyan and his sons is a singular symbol of the best human properties: the readiness to lend a helping hand in a time of tragedy, and humanism.
The Armenian people has highly appreciated these human properties, not least by means of this monument, which on the one hand expresses human vulnerability, and on the other hand, the ability to withstand the disaster. It combines the pain of loss and the confidence in rebirth.
I thank all those who participated in the creation of the monument from the idea to materialization. First of all, the dear master Frid Soghoyan. Special gratitude goes to Nikolay Ryzhkov who pioneered this idea, who has been continuing his great mission 20 years after the earthquake and from yesterday he is wearing the highest rank of this country – that of the National Hero of Armenia.
Compatriots,
Over the past years, we have been learning the lessons of the disastrous earthquake. We have also managed to solve numerous problems. Under the immediate leadership of President Kocharian, large-scale work was carried out; it became possible to overcome hopelessness; the living conditions of thousands of families have been improved. Numerous schools, kindergartens, healthcare and cultural facilities have been built. However, we haven’t managed to completely eradicate the consequences of the disaster. Moreover, currently, we face the problem of rapid development. Today we must be able to match the rate of development in Lori, Shirak, Tavush and other provinces with that of Yerevan. We are going to solve these problems together.
In matter of few years, we will be able to entirely overcome all the consequences of the disaster. When I say “entirely” I mean there will be no people left homeless as a result of the earthquake; regular and continuously improving living conditions will be restored. We promised this and we shall do it: we’ll achieve this despite the global economic crisis, despite the existing obstacles.
However, the most important thing is to cure the wounds in the souls of the people who survived the 1988 disaster: something that begins with the first cry the newborn and the noise of running children. Several months ago I promised to all of you that Gyumri shall be transformed into the Northern capital of Armenia. Gyumri must be given an opportunity to become a center hosting the Pan-Armenian games, Armenia-Diaspora forums, a venue for large international meetings, a capital of sports and art by revisiting its past vivacity. And that’s how it is to be.
My request is clear: to proactively perform the work in this domain. I demand not only statistical data but changes in the working environment, atmosphere and style.
I won’t consider the problem solved until the last family that suffered from the earthquake, the last homeless citizen is provided with apartment and worthy living conditions.
Twenty years ago, “For you, Armenia” was a universal slogan, which nowadays has been filled with a new meaning for all of us, and is perceived as a call for self-denying service to the Fatherland and our people.
This slogan becomes more inspiring with every housewarming, every new commissioned school thanks to the work of every Armenian
In the name of Spitak and Gyumri,
In the name of Shirakamut and Vanadzor,
In the name of our people
And in the name of Armenia’s empowerment.