“THE TRAGEDIES MAKES US STRONGER”: PULITZER PRIZE LAUREATE

The topic of the meeting was Gyumri tragedy that took place 30 years ago. During his speech, the well-known journalist spoke about the Gyumri earthquake, human distorted fates and the Soviet leadership.

Steven Kyurkchyan presented the American public opinion on that tragedy, as well as spoke about the Armenians in Boston who quickly responded and even used their personal ties in the state spheres so that they could get the necessary aid measures and equipment to take to Gyumri.

“What happened was of course a great tragedy. The Soviet authorities were not able to properly organize their steps in response to the problem of helping people. The problem of seismic resistance of the buildings was a big omission, due to which the number of victims was much greater in case of such an earthquake,” - said Steven Kyurkchyan.

Stephen Kyurkchyan touched upon the stories of those families who managed to overcome the tragedy: “Eventually, every event is a lesson that teaches us to be strong and to overcome the tragedy,” - added Steven Kyurkchyan.

Anahit Harutyunyan, famous journalist, is also a representative of investigative journalism. Anahit was born in Gyumri. She was next to make a speech.

She touched upon the topic of the small houses that left an erasable trace in Gyumri.

“Finally people are used to these so called cottages in Gyumri,” - said Anahit Harutyunyan. She added that in 2013, when they were handing over apartments, people did not want to move from there anymore. People are already used to these cottages. The government’s poor work states about the fact that there are still houses in Gyumri, where many homeless families live in inhumane conditions.”

“Thirty years have passed since the earthquake, but the breath of the earthquake is felt in the city, it seems that it happened only a few months ago,” - said Anahit Harutyunyan. But the situation is even worse when information is spreading that newly constructed buildings are also not safe.”

Anahit Harutyunyan called on the journalists who are going to address the issue of homelessness in Gyumri, be alert, to find out if the family has not got an apartment in the past and why they live in the so called cottage again.

“Despite the great tragedy that happened in our country, Gyumri chose the way to live. The bright evidence of that was the birth rate after the earthquake,” - concluded Anahit Harutyunyan.