An American charitable organization, headed by two U.S. businessmen and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has announced an agreement to build housing units in earthquake devastated Armenia.
The protocol agreement was signed at the Armenian Embassy in Moscow by Vladimir Surenovich Markariants, prime minister of Armenia; Jon M. Huntsman and Armand Hammer, co-chairmen of the American-Armenian Bridge of Friendship; and Elder Russell M. Nelson, a member of the LDS Church's Council of the Twelve.The charitable organization, with a $2 million contribution from Huntsman, will purchase necessary building materials. Construction officials from the LDS Church will oversee the building and completion of the project, a news release said Tuesday.
"As with a great many people in the United States, the Huntsman family wanted to help in any way we could. The Armenian people are known through the world for their mental keenness, hard work and love of life," said Huntsman, chairman and chief executive officer of Huntsman Chemical Corp. of Salt Lake City. "We are committed to help them through this very difficult period. Our family is most honored to donate or cause to be donated a gift of $2 million to assist our dear friends in Armenia."
Huntsman said he will find others to assist him in this worthwhile cause.
Devastation from the Dec. 7, 1988 earthquake, which registered 6.9 on the Richter scale, was staggering. Some 50,000 perished and hundreds of thousands more were left homeless.
"Their greatest need right now is housing. The destruction caused by the earthquake was so widespread that approximately one-seventh of the population of Armenia remains homeless," said Hammer, chairman and chief executive officer of Occidental Petroleum Corp. of Los Angeles.
Within days after the earthquake, Hammer flew to Armenia with a planeload of much-needed medical supplies. He also presented the Armenian government a check for $1 million - half from Occidental and half from World Vision, Inc., and the International Child Care Relief and Development Agency.
The money was used to buy additional emergency supplies. Since, the need for additional housing has become increasingly critical. The LDS Church, which has assisted extensively in relief efforts in Ethiopia and elsewhere, is also responding to that need.
"Our love for the Armenian people goes back many decades," said Elder Nelson, a world-renowned heart surgeon. "They have remained steadfast in their Christian faith through many centuries."
Elder Nelson said church members worldwide have wanted to be a part of the important relief effort.
"Our hope is to provide the manpower and assistance as needed to construct as many dwellings as rapidly as possible," he said.
Prime Minister Markariants expressed his gratitude to Hammer, Huntsman and Elder Nelson.
"The Armenian people are indebted to you for this act of thoughtful generosity. We are like the American People in many ways," he said. "We both have a great love of life. We want to have you come to Armenia and meet our people and learn of our ways."