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A Visit To An Historic And Picturesque Land, Nagorno Karabakh

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  • A Visit To An Historic And Picturesque Land, Nagorno Karabakh

    A VISIT TO AN HISTORIC AND PICTURESQUE LAND, NAGORNO KARABAKH
    by Florence Avakian

    http://www.huliq.com/1/89160/visit-histor ic-and-picturesque-land-nagorno-karabakh
    November 27th, 2009

    Crystal clear lakes. Majestic forested mountains. Fertile green
    valleys. Ancient churches and monuments. No, this is not Switzerland
    or Austria. This is Nagorno-Karabagh, (Black Highland), a magical
    sliver of land with a 2500 year old Armenian history and culture
    which should be on every tourist's menu.

    A worldwide telethon on Thursday, Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Day, broadcast
    from Los Angeles, raised funds for the fortress city of Shushi,
    the capital and cultural center of Nagorno-Karabagh historically,
    and a living museum of this many centuries-old Armenian land.

    Today, Nagorno-Karabagh (known as Artsagh to Armenians), is a
    tourist friendly, independent republic with elected officials, and
    a population anxious to share its rich history and culture with all
    visitors. Tourists can feel safe with the advanced 21st century medical
    system, and the clean water and food supply. And in October of 2010,
    Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabagh's capital city with its stone buildings
    and cobbled streets, will have a new airport, easing travel between
    Armenia and the republic.

    Once part of Armenia, Nagorno-Karabagh was taken away in 1923 by
    Stalin to placate Turkey and quell nationalism in the Soviet Union.

    Again claimed in 1988 by its Armenian majority, it was militarily
    invaded by Azerbaijan, and after six years of a devastating war,
    the 150,000 residents of Nagorno-Karabagh, won the conflict against
    Azerbaijan with its population of three million.

    This victory against insurmountable odds restored the people's
    national pride, and solidified the people's determination to build
    a secure, peaceful and independent future. Nagorno-Karabagh Prime
    Minister Ara Harutiunian attributes this victory to the people of
    the region "who were, and are willing to die for their land, freedom
    and independence." In addition," he notes, "those three, four million
    people in Azerbaijan are not ready to sacrifice their lives for the
    sake of depriving the Nagorno-Karabagh people of their freedom."

    In the history of Nagorno-Karabagh, "no outside force has been able
    to conquer it, and it will never do so in the future," he declares
    with no hesitation, adding that the final settlement of the republic
    can only be achieved by the will of the people, and must include the
    implementation of the principle of the people's self-determination.

    The organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE Minsk
    Group) based in Vienna is currently negotiating with Armenia and
    Azerbaijan to finalize the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabagh
    issue.

    GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE

    The Nagorno Karabagh Republic has been historic Armenian land for
    centuries. Armenia, being the first Christian nation on earth, is
    replete with historic and beautiful chapels and churches throughout
    Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh. It is well known that one of Christ's
    disciples, Thaddeus who came to Armenia to spread Christ's message, or
    a pupil of his, is buried in the Tadevank monastery in Nagono-Karabagh
    which was built in the fourth century. And the imposing Gantzasar
    monastery, severely damaged during the war, and completely rebuilt,
    is the repository of John the Baptist's skull. "In terms of churches,
    Nagorno Karabagh has global significance," states Prime Minister
    Harutunyan.

    Mesrob Mashdotz, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet, during the
    5th century A.D.'s golden age of Armenian culture, opened the first
    Armenian language school in the Amaras monastery in Nagorno-Karabagh's
    region of Martuni. And the town of Dikranagerd with a population in
    the tenth century of more than 25,000, boasts a magnificent tree with
    a twenty foot trunk. It is one of the oldest trees in the world.

    Another scenic wonder is the Azogh cave, one of the world's most
    ancient, where Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon people, and prehistoric
    animals lived. It was located on the crossroads of human migration.

    Currently, Spanish scientists have been making excavations there.

    Ecologically, Nagorno-Karabagh has imposing mountains, rivers,
    and glorious vistas. Deer, ibex, antelope, bear are in abundance in
    the forests.

    Kelbajar, one of the republic's most magnificent regions, with its
    towering mountains, and medicinal waters, and sandwiched between
    Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh, supplies 85 percent of Armenia's water
    supply. Recently, a pan-Armenian symbolic action taken by students
    from both Armenia and Karabagh was initiated there of walnut tree
    planting, walnuts being one of the region's most revered resources.

    Also, construction of schools and multiple-storied homes and buildings
    have been planned.

    A visitor to Nagorno-Karabagh would find a trip to this historic and
    picturesque land an unforgettable experience with timeless memories.
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