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Press Releases Ditavan celebrated completion of the gas-pipeline and administrative-building projects
2009-04-15 Ditavan celebrated completion of the gas-pipeline and administrative-building projects
For the 120 families of Ditavan a life-changing milestone was reached when Argentinean-Armenian benefactors Armen and Nadya Ekserjian firts time visited the village in 2007
The Hayastan All Armenian Fund has made access to natural gas a reality in one more Armenian village, Ditavan. By doing so, the fund has also helped stop the destruction of ancient forests near the community.
Located in the northeastern Region of Tavush, Ditavan is only three kilometers from the Azerbaijani border. Perched on a mountainside, the village boasts breathtaking views of the surrounding woods, whose beauty is matched by the inhabitants’ legendary hospitality.
During Artsakh’s war of liberation, Ditavan residents were forced to take up arms to defend their birthplace. Though the hostilities have long ended, a struggle of a different order has continued in the village. Up till recently, the community had to contend with a host of quality-of-life issues, including, mainly, the lack of access to natural gas, as a result of Azerbaijan’s ongoing economic blockade of Armenia.
For the 120 families of Ditavan, a life-changing milestone was reached when Argentinean-Armenian benefactors Armen and Nadya Ekserjian, along with officials from the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, visited the village in 2007 to assess local development needs. By the end of their visit, the benefactors pledged to fund several major projects in Ditavan, beginning with the critically needed initiative of providing residents with access to natural gas.
The subsequent construction of a gas pipeline freed Ditavan from dependence on woodstoves for heating and cooking, and having to cut down trees for firewood. In addition to the pipeline project, the Hayastan All Armenian Fund financed the renovation of Ditavan’s administrative building, where a healthcare clinic and a cultural center were established. The multi-use structure, which is unique in the area, has fast become the pride and joy of Ditavan’s residents.
On March 31, 2009, Ditavan celebrated the completion of both the gas-pipeline and administrative-building projects in grand style. The air was filled with the jubilant sounds of dhol and zurna, which had not been heard here for a long time. The event was attended by a number of Hayastan All Armenian officials, including Acting Executive Director Ara Vardanyan, as well as the Ekserjians. The villagers surprised the benefactors by naming Ditavan’s square after them, and giving them certificates as “Honorary Residents.”
Choking with emotion, Mr. Ekserjian promised the villagers to visit Ditavan often. On his part, Mr. Vardanyan told those present that the Hayastan All Armenian Fund will continue to implement vital development projects in the village, including the establishment of a new irrigation network.
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