On the 11th of March (Sat), Ambassador Taguchi attended the memorial ceremony dedicated to the 6th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake held in Spitak City
2017/3/15
On the 11th of March, 6 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, in Spitak City, located in northern Armenia, in front of the Monument (Khachkar) for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake a commemoration ceremony was held, which was attended by the Ambassador of Japan Mr. Taguchi and his spouse, and from the Armenian side the Minister of Emergency Situations Mr. Davit Tonoyan, Governor of Lori Marz Mr. Artur Nalbandyan, Mayor of Spitak City Mr. Gagik Sahakyan, Head of Rescue Service Mr. Mushegh Ghazaryan, Chief of Rescue Service of Lori Marz Mr. Karen Hovhannisyan, residents and Rescue Service employees of Spitak City were present during the ceremony. Approximately 100 people participated in the ceremony of laying flowers at the Khachkar.
During the ceremony in Spitak City an Armenian Church mass was served, after which Ambassador Taguchi expressed his gratitude to the Armenian Government, Armenian Church and to the people of Armenia for the support received after the Great East Japan Earthquake. He also thanked the residents of Spitak City for holding victims commemoration ceremony every year and mentioned the willingness of Japan to develop the cooperation in the area of disaster prevention with Armenia, which is also considered as seismic country. After the ceremony the guests made a visit to the Fire Service of Spitak City.
The Government of Japan has provided support to Armenia in the area of disaster prevention including through JICA’s projects till today. From Armenian side, Japan has received sincere support including the mass which was attended by President Sargsyan as well as donations for the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011.
Furthermore, 1 year later, in April 2012 by the initiative of Spitak’s branch staff of Ministry of Emergency Situations, who visited Japan for JICA’s project, a monument dedicated to the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake was built next to the monument in the memory of victims of the Spitak Earthquake. Every year on 11th of March residents of Spitak hold victims commemoration ceremony.
The commemorative words on this monument (khachkar) are written in both Japanese and Armenian languages.
During the ceremony in Spitak City an Armenian Church mass was served, after which Ambassador Taguchi expressed his gratitude to the Armenian Government, Armenian Church and to the people of Armenia for the support received after the Great East Japan Earthquake. He also thanked the residents of Spitak City for holding victims commemoration ceremony every year and mentioned the willingness of Japan to develop the cooperation in the area of disaster prevention with Armenia, which is also considered as seismic country. After the ceremony the guests made a visit to the Fire Service of Spitak City.
The Government of Japan has provided support to Armenia in the area of disaster prevention including through JICA’s projects till today. From Armenian side, Japan has received sincere support including the mass which was attended by President Sargsyan as well as donations for the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011.
Furthermore, 1 year later, in April 2012 by the initiative of Spitak’s branch staff of Ministry of Emergency Situations, who visited Japan for JICA’s project, a monument dedicated to the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake was built next to the monument in the memory of victims of the Spitak Earthquake. Every year on 11th of March residents of Spitak hold victims commemoration ceremony.
The commemorative words on this monument (khachkar) are written in both Japanese and Armenian languages.
Armenian Church mass in Spitak City
Ambassador Taguchi and Minister of Ambassador Taguchi's speech
Emergency Situation Mr. Davit Tonoyan
at the commemoration ceremony
at the commemoration ceremony
Residents and Rescue Service employees of Spitak City