UNION OF ARMENIANS FORMED IN TRANSDNIESTRIA

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Union of Armenians of Transdniestria was formed in the city of Grigoriopol (in the territory of unrecognized Transdniestrian Republic of Moldova) April 24, 2005, reported Union member Ernest Vardanian. According to diverse reports, no less than one thousand Armenians live in the unrecognized republic, which is Legally part of the Republic of Moldova. First Armenian population appeared in the territory of Transdniestria July 25, 1792, when a city was founded upon a decree of Russian Empress Catherine II with the participation of Armenian migrants. Thus the settlement was named Grigoriopol in the honor of Grigor the Enlightener - the first Catholicos of All Armenians. At the April 24 meeting Armenian community representatives commemorated the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, laid flowers at the Armenian cemetery of Grigoriopol. Then those gathered decided to form the Union of Armenians of Transdniestria, which included the communities of the cities of Grigoriopol, Tiraspol (the Transdniestrian capital) and Dubossary. The communities of Bendery, Rybnitsa and Kamenka towns are planned to join the Union later. Tiraspol businessman Gegham Gevorgian is elected Chairman of the Union of Armenians Board, which also includes Robert Kirakosian (a physician from Grigoriopol), Nikolay Seferiants (former Chairman of the Council of People's Deputies of Grigoriopol region), Tamara Shagoyan (teacher of Tiraspol Theoretical Lyceum), Ernest Vardanian (employee of Transdniestria Radio, Tiraspol city), as well as representatives of the Dubossary community. Besides the Board, the Council of the Community is also formed which will convene twice a year - April 24 and October 13 (the day of Grigor the Enlightener).