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LONG LIVE SWITZERLAND! LONG LIVE ARMENIA! - NATIONAL HOLIDAY OF SWISS CONFEDERATION CELEBRATED IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
http://www.nt.am/news.php?shownews=116307
Au g 7, 2008
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The Swiss were one of the first to
give a helping hand to the Armenian people immediately after the
Spitak earthquake, during the rescue work. Then they helped restore
the regions hit by the earthquake and supported the local residents by
implementing humanitarian programs. However, the history of helping the
Armenian people in its hard years began from an earlier period. In the
1870s, a wave of friendship with the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire
swept Switzerland. Jacob Canzler was the most famous one among numerous
volunteers who wished to help on the spot. In 1920-1921 he lived in
Edesia (Urfa) where he built a hospital and managed to save hundreds
of Armenians from violence. His book entitled "In the Country of Blood
and Tears" was published in Basel in 1921. This is a quotation from
the Swiss Ambassador to Armenia Dr. Lorenzo Amberg's welcome speech
delivered during a festive event held in Yerevan to celebrate the Swiss
National holiday on August 1st. Although it was for the first time
that the National holiday of Switzerland was celebrated in Armenia,
the event was attended by a lot of guests, including representatives
of state government bodies of Armenia, officials of foreign diplomatic
missions in our country, deputies of the RA National Assembly, and
representatives of Swisterland's international cooperation structures.
The 717th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation was marked in
Yerevan. In 1291, representatives of the Swiss cantons of Uri,
Schwyz and Unterwalden united in order to, as the ambassador put it,
"protect their freedom and independence". Over centuries Switzerland
unified new areas around itself and created institutions protecting
the language, religion and rights of each citizen. "This is the
reason why our compatriots both in the country and throughout the
world remember with gratitude the wisdom of our ancestors who left
to us such a special "clockwork" as Switzerland."
Armenia established diplomatic relations with this "clockwork" in 1991.
"After the 1988 earthquake our friendship got a new lease of life. The
Swiss population and government have provided tens of millions of
francs for restoration of the destroyed cities. Switzrland keeps its
presence in Armenia through technical assistance and its office of
humanitarian aid. Its current priorities are development of rural
communities and strengthening the structures of protection from
natural disasters," L. Amberg stated, attaching great importance to
"cooperation of the two old and at the same modern, independent
nations - members of the UN, OSCE and the Council of Europe".
The cooperation is promoted by the diplomatic relations that have
become more active in recent years. The speaker of the Swiss parliament
paid a visit to Armenia in November 2007, Switzerland's State Secretary
of Foreign Affairs Michael Ambuhl visited our country twice. The Swiss
Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Ray arrived in Armenia on June 27,
stating an intention to open the Swiss embassy in Armenia. According
to the L. Amberg, this symbolizes a wish to strengthen Switzerland's
links with Armenia. He concluded his speech with the words: "Long
Live Switzerland! Long Live Armenia!" (in Armenian).
In the words of the Armenian Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanian,
since 1291, while being located at the crossroads of various cultures
and religions, Switzerland has succeeded in uniting and integrating
these cultures into intself. Since that time Switzerland's impartiality
and democratic foundations formed a basis of global politics. According
to him, Switzerland also plays a great role in the provision of
humanitarian aid in the world.
"Switzerland has been one of the most dedicated supporters and friends
of Armenia. Since the very first day of the independence of Armenia,
Switzerland has been on Armenia's side, providing technical and
financial assistance for development needs of our country. These
relations have strengthened in recent years. The most obvious proof
of it is the development of our relations, within the bilateral and
multilateral political framework."
G. Gharibjanian underlined that the visit of Micheline Calmy-Rey
will contribute to further consolidation of the relations of the
two countries.
Noyan Tapan
http://www.nt.am/news.php?shownews=116307
Au g 7, 2008
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The Swiss were one of the first to
give a helping hand to the Armenian people immediately after the
Spitak earthquake, during the rescue work. Then they helped restore
the regions hit by the earthquake and supported the local residents by
implementing humanitarian programs. However, the history of helping the
Armenian people in its hard years began from an earlier period. In the
1870s, a wave of friendship with the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire
swept Switzerland. Jacob Canzler was the most famous one among numerous
volunteers who wished to help on the spot. In 1920-1921 he lived in
Edesia (Urfa) where he built a hospital and managed to save hundreds
of Armenians from violence. His book entitled "In the Country of Blood
and Tears" was published in Basel in 1921. This is a quotation from
the Swiss Ambassador to Armenia Dr. Lorenzo Amberg's welcome speech
delivered during a festive event held in Yerevan to celebrate the Swiss
National holiday on August 1st. Although it was for the first time
that the National holiday of Switzerland was celebrated in Armenia,
the event was attended by a lot of guests, including representatives
of state government bodies of Armenia, officials of foreign diplomatic
missions in our country, deputies of the RA National Assembly, and
representatives of Swisterland's international cooperation structures.
The 717th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation was marked in
Yerevan. In 1291, representatives of the Swiss cantons of Uri,
Schwyz and Unterwalden united in order to, as the ambassador put it,
"protect their freedom and independence". Over centuries Switzerland
unified new areas around itself and created institutions protecting
the language, religion and rights of each citizen. "This is the
reason why our compatriots both in the country and throughout the
world remember with gratitude the wisdom of our ancestors who left
to us such a special "clockwork" as Switzerland."
Armenia established diplomatic relations with this "clockwork" in 1991.
"After the 1988 earthquake our friendship got a new lease of life. The
Swiss population and government have provided tens of millions of
francs for restoration of the destroyed cities. Switzrland keeps its
presence in Armenia through technical assistance and its office of
humanitarian aid. Its current priorities are development of rural
communities and strengthening the structures of protection from
natural disasters," L. Amberg stated, attaching great importance to
"cooperation of the two old and at the same modern, independent
nations - members of the UN, OSCE and the Council of Europe".
The cooperation is promoted by the diplomatic relations that have
become more active in recent years. The speaker of the Swiss parliament
paid a visit to Armenia in November 2007, Switzerland's State Secretary
of Foreign Affairs Michael Ambuhl visited our country twice. The Swiss
Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Ray arrived in Armenia on June 27,
stating an intention to open the Swiss embassy in Armenia. According
to the L. Amberg, this symbolizes a wish to strengthen Switzerland's
links with Armenia. He concluded his speech with the words: "Long
Live Switzerland! Long Live Armenia!" (in Armenian).
In the words of the Armenian Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanian,
since 1291, while being located at the crossroads of various cultures
and religions, Switzerland has succeeded in uniting and integrating
these cultures into intself. Since that time Switzerland's impartiality
and democratic foundations formed a basis of global politics. According
to him, Switzerland also plays a great role in the provision of
humanitarian aid in the world.
"Switzerland has been one of the most dedicated supporters and friends
of Armenia. Since the very first day of the independence of Armenia,
Switzerland has been on Armenia's side, providing technical and
financial assistance for development needs of our country. These
relations have strengthened in recent years. The most obvious proof
of it is the development of our relations, within the bilateral and
multilateral political framework."
G. Gharibjanian underlined that the visit of Micheline Calmy-Rey
will contribute to further consolidation of the relations of the
two countries.