December 6, 2008 - 14:40 AMT
Norayr Muradyan: $10 million assigned to earthquake calamity zone reconstruction vanished
The authorities of the Armenian SSR received some 4 billion rubles from Moscow immediately after the 1988 earthquake. 2 billion was deposited in banks. However, the sum disappeared after the USSR decline and hundreds of families remained homeless, Norayr Muradyan, the former head of the Spitak district committee told a news conference today.

"Armenia received $40 million of foreign aid. $10 million was not spent on the needs of the calamity zone," he said. "We have already addressed Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to make causes clarified. The authorities of Russian and Armenia should furnish explanation and return these funds."

Besides, the Russian PM was offered to form a building company to participate in reconstruction of destructed towns and villages.

Mr. Muradyan also informed that the Moscow Organization Committee published a book dated to the 20th anniversary of the devastating earthquake. "A memorial to the earthquake victims will be accomplished within 5 years," he said.