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Armenia celebrates January 29, 2011 as the Missing Persons’ Commemoration Day.

An event dedicated to the celebration of the Commemoration Day (adopted by the RA Government Resolution on October 23, 2000) was held in Vanadzor by the initiative of RA Ministry of Defense and with the support of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor and Vanadzor Municipality.

Members of Interdepartmental Committee (established for the protection of the family rights of missing persons) NA deputy Larisa Alaverdyan, Deputy-minister of RA Ministry of Healthcare Hayk Darbinyan, Chief of the RA MoD Department of Social Protection of Servicemen Colonel Vardan Sargsyan in line with heads of LSGBs, representatives of Armenian Apostolic Church, head of RA Police Lori Regional Administration Anubakh Hambaryan, representatives from #3 army corps, relatives of missing persons, Vanadzor community Avagani members were present at the commemorative event.

“The Intergovernmental Committee of Armenia highly values the role of NGOs, individuals, and the Armenian Church for their constant solicitude and support to the families of missing persons, who have been longing for the return of their sons throughout all these years.

The Government fully realizes that there are still initiations to be undertaken at the state level, including the ratification of the draft law, which is currently in the preparation phase. The law clearly implies consideration towards those families at the state level”, noted Larisa Alaverdyan in her speech. She instilled hope that hereinafter greater attention and consideration would be given to those families at the national level. Historian, freedom fighter Gevorg Chatinyan also made a speech at the Commemoration Day.

Artur Sakunts, head of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, presented the issues of the missing persons and highlighted the commitments of the Government before the missing persons and their families with regard to identification of their current location and information on their fates. He prioritized the loss of human lives as basis for the Government to comprehend its commitments.

Artur Sakunts stated that a draft law on the “missing persons” was drafted by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Government representative, by which the aforementioned commitments were stipulated. According to him, the draft law will be discussed and adopted during the fall session of the National Assembly.

Artur Sakunts emphasized that the issues of the missing persons should not be identified with those of the martyrs as well as recommended to bring in lucidity in the destinies of their relatives. In the end, Artur Sakunts stated in his speech that there are many gaps to overcome regarding the disclosure of the missing persons’ fates and support provided to their families.

It is worth noting that the RA Ministry of Defense had allocated 300.000 AMD to Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor for the organization of the event. But the latter decided to donate the money to the families of the missing persons from Lori and Tavoush regions in order to alleviate some of their social issues.