The UN Office in Armenia and "Hikari" Japanese Scientific- Educational Centre jointly organized an event dedicated to the 71st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Japanese Ambassador to Armenia Eiji Taguchi has told ArmInfo that such events are very important. He expressed his amazement at the beauty of the exhibits. He said he thought it would be small pictures, but what he saw was quite large canvases with beautiful art pieces. He stressed that such exhibitions are dedicated to not only the events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but they convey a message of peace to the whole world, because the problem of nuclear bombs concerns not only Japan. He stressed the need to join efforts to prevent crimes like the one in Hiroshima.
For his part, Bradley Busetto, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Armenia, noted that Armenia is well aware what consequences a war can have. The peace message from Armenian children is very important, he added.
Following the exhibition at the UN Office in Armenia, the origami items will be sent to Japan and exhibited at the events commemorating the 71st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The events are held annually on August 6.
To note, in August 2005, on the 60th Commemoration Day of Hiroshima and Nagasaki A-bomb attacks, 1000 cranes and 250 painted lanterns made by the hands of Armenian children were sent to Hiroshima YMCA to pay tribute to the victims. The Hiroshima dwellers kindly appreciated this program called "Peace Lanterns". The folded lanterns sent by the Armenian children were set afloat by Japanese children. Armenian children also sent letters of best wishes to Japanese children. Those letters were read in numerous schools in Japan. On the same day, August 6, at 10 p.m. in one of Yerevan central pools Armenian children carried out the Armenian part of Peace Lanterns Program. Hundreds of painted lanterns were set afloat as the token of peace and concord. This program is continued up to date.