Armenia is grateful to Russia for rehabilitation assistance after the Spitak earthquake of 1988, President of the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians of Russia Ara Abrahamian said at today's press conference with "Novosti" Russian agency on the eve of the 15-th anniversary of the catastrophe in Armenia. Within the initial hours after the destructive earthquake detachments of Armed Forces and frontier guards of the USSR came to rescue the victims, reminded major general Nikolay Tarakanov, who was in command of military formations engaged in rescuing people and removing the consequences of the calamity. "Within a few days the Yerevan regiment alone saved 400 people from under the obstruction," he reported. "We in Russia together with our Armenian friends mark this day as a commemoration day. The grief has made our peoples closer," the general said. It should be reminded that the earthquake took place December 7, 1988. The tremor of up to seven points on the Richter scale demolished Spitak, Leninakan, Stepanavan, Kirovakan towns within 30 seconds. 25 thousand people were killed, about the same number got injuries. 514 thousand were left without shelter. A total of 21 towns and regions, suffered from the earthquake, as well as 350 villages - 58 out of which were demolished.