Kursk commemorates memory of Spitak earthquake victimsDecember 7, 2009 - 17:00 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Kursk commemorated the memory of Spitak earthquake victims. Armenians of Kursk visited the memorial to fallen soldiers of the Great Patriotic War to lay wreaths in commemoration of 1988 earthquake victims. "This horror will never be forgotten. There's no family in Armenia, who didn't lose a relative to this disaster," kurskweb.ru cited Stepan Sargsyan, Chairman of Russian Armenians' Union, as saying. 21 years have passed since the devastating Spitak earthquake that shocked Armenia December 7, 1988. At 11.41 a.m. local time a magnitude 10 earthquake destroyed the entire city of Spitak. There was great damage to the nearby cities of Leninakan (now known as Gyumri) and Kirovakan (today Vanadzor) and some 350 surrounding villages. The earthquake claimed lives of 25 thousand people; some 100 thousand were wounded; over 500 thousand became homeless. The earthquake was rated among the most crushing calamities of the world. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |