THOUSANDS OF ARMENIANS JOIN HNADS TO ENCIRCLE THEIR HIGHEST MOUNTAIN
Armenpress
YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS: Hundreds of thousands of Armenians joined
hands to encircle Armenia’s highest mountain Aragats Saturday, in a
dance of unity to celebrate the establishment of the first Armenian
republic in 1918.
More than 150,000 people danced for about 15 minutes in a massive,
165-kilometer (100-mile) circle along the roads surrounding Mount
Aragats, about 60 kilometers (40 miles) north of the capital, Yerevan.
The event was also joined by Armenian President Robert Kocharian,
Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasian, Armenian government
officials led by Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian and members of
parliament. Kocharian arrived at the mountain foot after attending
a ceremony at the historical complex of Sardarapat accompanied by
famous French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour. Armenians living in
all foreign countries joined the event. Asked by reporters to comment
on a recent announcement by Ukraine that it could deploy peace-keeping
forces along the line dividing Armenian and Azeri troops around Nagorno
Karabakh the latter’s leader Arkady Ghukasian said there was no need
for it, because the truce has been maintained for 11 years already
without any international interference. Ghukasian also spoke about
the summer parliamentary elections in Nagorno Karabakh saying the
election campaign proceeds normally. “My duty is to ensure free and
fair elections and I believe we shall achieve it,” Ghukasian concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress