Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09YEREVAN339
2009-05-18 11:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:
ARMENIA RENOVATES 800-YR OLD JEWISH CEMETERY
VZCZCXRO6790 RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHYE #0339 1381156 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 181156Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9072 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0032 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0032 RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION WASHINGTON DC RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0728
UNCLAS YEREVAN 000339
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL/SEAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI SCUL EAID KIRF IL AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA RENOVATES 800-YR OLD JEWISH CEMETERY
REF: YEREVAN 320
UNCLAS YEREVAN 000339
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL/SEAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI SCUL EAID KIRF IL AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA RENOVATES 800-YR OLD JEWISH CEMETERY
REF: YEREVAN 320
1. (U) On May 11, Ambassador joined the Vayats Dzor governor,
churchmen, foreign diplomats, scholars and dignitaries to dedicate
the renovation of Armenia's ancient Jewish cemetery located near the
Armenian village of Yeghegis, in the Vayats Dzor region in the south
of the country. Thirteen years after its discovery by an Armenian
bishop and its subsequent studying by Israeli Armenologist Michael
Stone and archaeologist David Amit, the cemetery of 64 unique
memorial stones has been restored to include access by foot, a
surrounding wall and multilingual informational signage at the
cemetery and in Yeghegis.
2. (U) During the ceremony, Dr. Amit pointed out some of the more
interesting tombstone inscriptions, many of which remain quite
legible in Hebrew. The Israeli and former Georgian ambassadors to
Armenia spoke of the extraordinary cooperation between the GOAM and
donor community that made the project possible. Ambassador
Yovanovitch also addressed the significance of Jews and Armenians
living together in harmony so many centuries ago and the importance
of tolerance towards others. She noted the GOAM's participation in
restoring the cemetery as indicative of its support for religious
freedom in Armenia.
3. (U) The ceremony was a rare opportunity to bring together not
only archaeologists, Armenologists and other scholars from Europe,
Israel and the United States, but also the heads of the rival Jewish
organizations in Armenia, Rabbi Gersh-Meir Burstein and Rimma
Varzhapetian (see reftel). In the brief ceremony that dedicated the
cemetery's renovation, Burstein recited the traditional kaddish, and
Varzhapetian thanked the GOAM, the project donors, including
USAID's Competitive Armenia Private Sector (CAPS) program, and the
Israeli government for preserving a small piece of Jewish heritage
in the region and promoting tolerance in Armenia in the process.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: With this event the GOAM fulfilled the pledge
made by the late Prime Minister Andranik Markarian to support the
restoration of one of the most unique Jewish landmarks in the entire
Caucasus. It also highlighted the cooperation that is possible not
only between Armenians and Jews, but between the local factions of
Armenia's divided Jewish community. END COMMENT.
YOVANOVITCH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL/SEAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI SCUL EAID KIRF IL AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA RENOVATES 800-YR OLD JEWISH CEMETERY
REF: YEREVAN 320
1. (U) On May 11, Ambassador joined the Vayats Dzor governor,
churchmen, foreign diplomats, scholars and dignitaries to dedicate
the renovation of Armenia's ancient Jewish cemetery located near the
Armenian village of Yeghegis, in the Vayats Dzor region in the south
of the country. Thirteen years after its discovery by an Armenian
bishop and its subsequent studying by Israeli Armenologist Michael
Stone and archaeologist David Amit, the cemetery of 64 unique
memorial stones has been restored to include access by foot, a
surrounding wall and multilingual informational signage at the
cemetery and in Yeghegis.
2. (U) During the ceremony, Dr. Amit pointed out some of the more
interesting tombstone inscriptions, many of which remain quite
legible in Hebrew. The Israeli and former Georgian ambassadors to
Armenia spoke of the extraordinary cooperation between the GOAM and
donor community that made the project possible. Ambassador
Yovanovitch also addressed the significance of Jews and Armenians
living together in harmony so many centuries ago and the importance
of tolerance towards others. She noted the GOAM's participation in
restoring the cemetery as indicative of its support for religious
freedom in Armenia.
3. (U) The ceremony was a rare opportunity to bring together not
only archaeologists, Armenologists and other scholars from Europe,
Israel and the United States, but also the heads of the rival Jewish
organizations in Armenia, Rabbi Gersh-Meir Burstein and Rimma
Varzhapetian (see reftel). In the brief ceremony that dedicated the
cemetery's renovation, Burstein recited the traditional kaddish, and
Varzhapetian thanked the GOAM, the project donors, including
USAID's Competitive Armenia Private Sector (CAPS) program, and the
Israeli government for preserving a small piece of Jewish heritage
in the region and promoting tolerance in Armenia in the process.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: With this event the GOAM fulfilled the pledge
made by the late Prime Minister Andranik Markarian to support the
restoration of one of the most unique Jewish landmarks in the entire
Caucasus. It also highlighted the cooperation that is possible not
only between Armenians and Jews, but between the local factions of
Armenia's divided Jewish community. END COMMENT.
YOVANOVITCH