July 15, 2010 - 21:38 AMT
Exhibition of unique collection of origami launched in UN Armenia Office

On July 15, a unique collection of origami exhibition was launched in the UN Armenia Office within the framework of Armenian-Japanese Peace Lantern Project. The event was dedicated to the memory of nuclear bombs victims of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

This origami exhibition in Armenia aimed at promoting the Armenian-Japanese relationship and its main objective is to raise public awareness about peace. The exhibition is organized by Hicari Armenian-Japanese scientific-educational and cultural center and the National Centre of Aesthetics. It is supported by the UN RC.

In her welcoming speech UN Resident Coordinator Dafina Gercheva said: "Exhibitions are an excellent vehicle for promoting peace and understanding between the nations. Learning about other cultures and ways of life is a fine way of promoting universal peace and friendship - one of the core universal values promoted by the United Nations. It will promote closer cultural awareness between Armenia and Japan."

Armenian children will send their crafted paper cranes and lanterns condemning war and advocating peace to the Peace Memorial Foundation in Japan for the fifth time. This unique project of Armenian children became an international one, with children from Canada, England, Russia and the U.S. joining the initiative.

And this bright project served as a basis to start the two sister cities process: Yerevan and Hiroshima.

The action of Armenian children was highly appreciated by the Japanese people and international communities. Thus, Armenian children became not only painters and singers but also real Ambassadors of Peace.

The event coincided with the opening of the Armenian Embassy in Japan, UN Armenia Office reported.