It is the duty of each person to examine the history of his nation. It is also important for each person to examine the geography of his birthplace.

This was the purpose of the already annual Armenian History Contest organized by the Board of ARS Georgia this year.

The contest was held at the Armenian Educational, Cultural and Youth Center of Akhalkalak and gathered over 100 schoolchildren from several schools across Akhalkalak. The schoolchildren were assigned to write the answers to 15 questions about the versions that they had proposed. They were excited about answering the questions in written form since they considered it more effective than taking a test. The contest made everyone work independently. The committee comprised of the best experts of the region will announce the results in two days. Stages will be held in other regions over the next few days.

The final stage for the winners of the regional stage will be a verbal test that will help enhance a child’s verbal skills and check his knowledge.

The Board of ARS Georgia will also organize an Award Ceremony for the winners to encourage the winners with the awards that they deserve.

Today, 8th of June, a few hours earlier the representative from Akhalkalak region Samvel Petrosyan spoke in the Parliament of Georgia. His speech was devoted to the adoption by the German Bundestag the resolution on the Armenian Genocide. Javakhk MP also called on other countries, including Georgia, to follow the example of Germany. Here is the complete text of the speech:

Dear colleagues,

June 2 of this year, the German Bundestag adopted a resolution and condemned the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire.

I would like from this high tribune to sincerely thank the German Bundestag and the German people for an objective approach to the events of 100 years ago and to the restoration of historical justice.

Also, I call upon all democratic countries, including Georgia, that have not yet recognized the Genocide, to follow the example of Germany and many countries that recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide, and thus prevent a similar crime to other peoples.

Thank you.

S. Petrosyan is the member of the Parliament of Georgia since October 1, 2012. Before that, he held administrative positions, including being a prefect of Akhalkalak region from November 11, 1991.

JavakhkMedia, Akhaltskha.net
Tbilisi-Javakhk-Yerevan

It was the 28th of May 1918 when Armenia gained its independence and was declared as the First Republic of Armenia. After the persecutions, massacres and wars orchestrated by the Young Turks’ government, the tortured Armenian people were barely trying to get back on their feet and find peace in their native land. They were fighting to restore justice and gain independence. And finally, after the heroic battles of Bash-Aparan, Gharakilisa and Sardarapat, the centuries-old dream of creating an autonomous state came true for the Armenian people.

Despite its short existence (1918-20), the First Republic of Armenia played a major and invaluable role in the future reinstatement of statehood.

Today, Armenia is independent once again and is celebrating the 98th anniversary of its independence along with all Armenians around the world.

The youth center of Akhalkalak also celebrated Republic Day with an event attended by the personnel of the youth center, as well as the students and their parents. According to tradition, the event was held properly and set the festive mood.

The students’ poems, songs and dances devoted to Armenia and independence put smiles on people’s faces and made them feel wonderful.

Everyone was happy and proud to have an Independent Armenia and to be Armenian in general.

Congratulations, Independent Armenia!

Akhalkalaki-Ninotsminda road, which underwent capital repairs back in 1997, has become completely unserviceable. There are numerous deep pits on the road.

Although repair activities are carried out every year, new pits appear on the asphalt. According to the local residents, the road also breaks the cars, which may cause accidents. Many people think that this road section needs capital repairs.

According to tradition, every May 6th, a grand celebration is always held near the chapel of St. George the Warrior on one of the hills of Small Pamatch village of Akhaltskha region of Georgia called Bural.

However, this year’s celebration was special in that sons of the Small Pamatch village, large businessmen and benefactors Ashot and Artavazd Baboyan (founders of the от Мартинa company) turned the celebration into a big feast. In a matter of days, the area near the St. George the Warrior Chapel turned into a heavenly place for a feast. Several open villas and shacks for reception were quickly built.

The event began after the Holy Mass and included a concert and athletic program during which Grigory Yesayan was able to sing only a couple of songs due to the bad weather. The athletic program included a wrestling tournament, the winners of which would receive cars, while the participants would receive bicycles, but the rain and strong winds postponed the major part of the event to the next day.

According to spiritual leader of Akhaltskha, Father Hakob Sahakyan, they would organize short events following the Holy Mass at Bural every May 6th during which the Gohanamk Ensemble of the local youth center would perform and benefactors would help organize the sacrificing of lamb, but this year’s celebration was incomparably bigger and gathered several thousands of people from the whole region. “Unfortunately, the event ended soon due to the bad ... »»»

On May 5, the Armenians of Akhaltskha transferred $12,100 dollars to the bank account opened by the Ministry of Finance of the Artsakh Republic.

Hhe funds were raised by the Armenians of Akhaltskha and the nearby 15 Armenian villages to support Artsakh.

On April 23, the Armenian Youth Educational-Cultural Center of Akhaltskha hosted an event dedicated to the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and to the memory of the servicemen killed in Artsakh. The event began with a performance of the Armenian national anthem, after which spiritual pastor of Akhaltskha, Father Torgom read the Lord’s Prayer along with all the participants.

During the event, the members and scouts of the Center sang patriotic songs, recited poems and expressed their heartfelt words to commemorate the holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide and the heroes who sacrificed their lives for Artsakh.

In their closing speeches, the Center’s administrators stated that April 23rd and 24th are not days of crying and mourning, but days of awakening, rebirth and struggle because there can be no crying when there is a struggle. According to them, by attacking Artsakh in early April, the Turks tried to massacre the Armenians once again, but they were pushed back thanks to the heroic acts of Armenian soldiers.

On March 13, Russian language teacher of the Youth, Educational and Cultural Center of Akhalkalak A. Ayvazyan and her students organized an event entitled “The More Languages You Know, the More of a Person You Are”. The members of the Center presented the role that the Russian language plays in the lives of Armenians.

In the beginning, the master of ceremonies presented the purpose of the event, after which the participants of the event praised and glorified Armenia and the Armenian language, presented comic sketches in Russian and performed songs and dances that set the great mood.

The members of the dance club performed the “Kochari-Potpourri-Katyusha” combination of Russian and Armenian dances, presenting the Russian and Armenian national dances separately. The performance was very unique and beautiful.

At the end, in Armenian, one of the schoolchildren told everyone that no matter how much we Armenians love and learn foreign languages, the first and important language for us must be our native language, that is, Armenian and that it is the duty of every Armenian to speak and think in Armenian.